Software Tools

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• Software tools are a crucial component of performing sampling and power calculations in development research.

Introduction

There is a broad range of software tools available for data analysis. Some, like Stata, are proprietary and specialized for applications to econometric problems in the survey-data context; others, like R, are open-source and follow more general coding standards so that they are more readily adaptable to tasks that are not well-defined in the econometric framework (such as Spatial Analysis).

Statistical Software

Stata

Stata is a proprietary statistical software package widely adopted by economists. It can be used for data cleaning, analysis and visualization, and allows users to create reproducible code as well as using point-and-click commands. Its biggest advantage it that, given its widespread use among economists and the possibility of creating user-written commands, there is a wide variety of microeconometric methods that can be implemented with Stata. Stata can also be used to create maps and dynamic documents, though this last feature is restricted to Stata 15. Unfortunately, it can be rather expensive for a full version, and version upgrades are at full price.

R

R is a free, open-source programming language that is commonly used to conduct statistical analyses. It supports a diverse range of packages and processes, such as geospatial calculation, machine learning tools, and advanced graphics. However, its versatility is dependent on that code syntax and function structure, compared to other software that operates more like a record of actions in relatively more "plain-English" command styles.

EViews

EViNo Denomination Ecole Gestion Filiere Effectifs Nombre de fiches vendues Nombre Fiches Prix unit /FC Prix Total/FC SK1 SK2 Alboom 1 CS AJABU 7 Sociale 17 51 3 3 57 3000 171000 2 CS AJABU 7 Agricult. 4 12 3 3 18 3000 54000 3 CS AMANI 7 Sociale 5 15 3 3 21 3000 63000 4 CS AMANI 7 Nutrition 7 21 3 3 27 3000 81000 5 CS GRACE DE DIEU 7 Sociale 27 81 3 6 90 3000 270000 6 CS GRACE DE DIEU 7 Agricult. 15 45 3 3 51 3000 153000 7 CS GRACE DIVINE 7 Sociale 32 96 3 6 105 3000 315000 8 CS GRACE DIVINE 7 Nutrition 16 42 3 3 48 3000 144000 9 CS LA SAGESSE 7 Agricult. 8 24 3 3 30 3000 90000 10 CS MICHEL BONGWA 7 Sociale 21 63 3 3 69 3000 207000 11 EDAP /ISP- KELEHE 1 Sociale 4 12 3 3 18 3000 54000 12 INST. BIGLIMANI 2 Commeciale 10 30 3 3 36 3000 108000 13 INST. BULENGO 7 Sociale 6 18 3 3 24 3000 72000 14 INST. CYANYI 6 Sociale 44 132 3 6 141 3000 423000 15 INST. HOZIANA 2 7 Sociale 5 15 3 3 21 3000 63000 16 INST. IBINJA 1 Sociale 26 78 3 6 87 3000 261000 17 INST. IRAMBO 2 Commeciale 21 63 3 3 69 3000 207000 18 INST. KABANDA 6 Sociale 24 72 3 3 78 3000 234000 19 INST. LA PATIENCE 5 Sociale 4 12 3 3 18 3000 54000 20 INST. LWANGA 2 Sociale 27 81 3 3 87 3000 261000 21 INST. RUHARANGA 6 Sociale 36 108 3 6 117 3000 351000 22 INST. UMOJA 2 Commeciale 7 21 3 3 27 3000 81000 23 ITA BIZI-BULENGA 2 Agricult. 28 84 3 3 90 3000 270000 ews is a statistical package mainly used for time-series econometrics.

SPSS

SPSS is a statistical package used mainly in social sciences.

GIS Software

ArcGIS

ArcGIS is a proprietary GIS package for Windows.

QGIS

QGIS is an open-source GIS package for Windows and Mac.

Text Editing Software

LaTeX

DIME has prepared resources for getting started with LaTeX and how to write fully replicable documents using LaTeX. See the resource here. LaTeX's web-based tool, Overleaf, is a great collaboration tool. While new alternatives based on, for example, Microsoft Word that skip LaTeX altogether are emerging, DIME Analytics recommends LaTeX/Overleaf as they are more comprehensive and the resources online are much more well developed than for any of the new tools.

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This page is part of the topic Software Tools

Additional Resources

• DIME Analytics, Geospatial Data with spmap
• DIME Analytics, LaTeX Training
• DIME, LaTeX Templates .
• American Economic Association, AEA Data and Code Availability Policy - by Lars Vilhuber