Stata The Stata listserver
[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date index][Thread index]

Re: st: A Word to Future Authors


From   Raphael Fraser <[email protected]>
To   [email protected]
Subject   Re: st: A Word to Future Authors
Date   Wed, 10 Aug 2005 10:56:40 -0500

Well perhaps we need more specialized INTRODUCTORY Stata books out
there. Geared towards individual disciplines (biostatistics, social
sciences etc.). I am also perplexed that since the existence of Stata
there have only been a handful of intro books in the entire inhabited
earth. This is a plea to authors for more intro books with useful and
meaningful exercises.

On 8/10/05, Richard Williams <[email protected]> wrote:
> At 09:02 AM 8/10/2005 -0400, Raphael Fraser wrote:
> >Dear Authors of Stata Books,
> >
> >I have a complaint about introductory Stata books. Recently, I have
> >been searching for  "intro to Stata" books to teach masters level
> >students how to use Stata. Of the two intro books at Stata's book
> >store none had EXERCISES to reinforce concepts. Why should I buy a
> >book and create my own exercises? I feel cheated. While these books
> 
> I think Hamilton's book is great.  I think the real problem is that
> different people like different things, and there aren't as many books on
> Stata as there are for other programs.  As I wrote in my review of
> Hamilton's book for the Stata Journal,
> 
> "it is also important to acknowledge that, if Hamilton's is the one Stata
> book that everyone should own, it is partly because there are so few
> alternatives.  If I wish to teach an introductory statistics course using
> SPSS, I probably have at least a dozen texts to choose from.  If I want to
> teach that course using Stata, Hamilton wins almost by default.  As I read
> Statistics with Stata, I repeatedly found myself thinking of things I would
> like to see done differently or additionally.  However, no one text can do
> all things; many of the comments that follow are therefore not criticisms
> of the book, but rather, observations on the kinds of other texts I wish
> were available.  Of course, since such books often are available using
> other software, those looking for a textbook and who are not wed to the
> choice of a specific program will want to consider whether, despite all its
> merits, SWS is the best choice for them...
> 
> "...as good as Hamilton's examples are, instructors who feel that students
> learn statistics best by seeing relevant examples from their own fields of
> study should realize that Hamilton does not provide them with the kind of
> support that many other books will.  Particularly for an introductory
> course where many of the students will never run a statistical package
> again, the benefits of using a superior program like Stata and a fine
> general book like Hamilton's will have to be weighed against the advantages
> of using a text that focuses on examples from the course's discipline."
> 
> 
> -------------------------------------------
> Richard Williams, Notre Dame Dept of Sociology
> OFFICE: (574)631-6668, (574)631-6463
> FAX:    (574)288-4373
> HOME:   (574)289-5227
> EMAIL:  [email protected]
> WWW (personal):    http://www.nd.edu/~rwilliam
> WWW (department):    http://www.nd.edu/~soc
> 
> *
> *   For searches and help try:
> *   http://www.stata.com/support/faqs/res/findit.html
> *   http://www.stata.com/support/statalist/faq
> *   http://www.ats.ucla.edu/stat/stata/
>

*
*   For searches and help try:
*   http://www.stata.com/support/faqs/res/findit.html
*   http://www.stata.com/support/statalist/faq
*   http://www.ats.ucla.edu/stat/stata/



© Copyright 1996–2024 StataCorp LLC   |   Terms of use   |   Privacy   |   Contact us   |   What's new   |   Site index