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  5. Computational Statistics I

Computational Statistics I

Objectives

This curricular unit (UC) is especially recommended for users without programming experience in the SAS© system, but who have knowledge of other programming languages or databases management. The UC provides a solid foundation for information management through SAS programming. In this course, students will acquire skills to develop sophisticated programs for the manipulation and analysis of data and files. The UC's main objective is to provide knowledge about the fundamental concepts of SAS programming.

At the end of this course, students should be able to:
1. Read and create data files
2. Read, create and combine SAS files
3. Create variables using the assignment statement and conditional processing
4. Manipulate data using SAS functions
5. Processing data through DO cycles and arrays
6. Create different types of reports
7. Create formats with the FORMAT procedure
8. Produce simple statistical analyses
9. Convert numeric and alphanumeric data

General characterization

Code

400005

Credits

6.0

Responsible teacher

Frederico Miguel Campos Cruz Ribeiro de Jesus

Hours

Weekly - Available soon

Total - Available soon

Teaching language

Portuguese. If there are Erasmus students, classes will be taught in English

Prerequisites

Not applicable.

Bibliography

  • SAS® 9.2 Language Reference: Concepts. Second Edition. Cary, NC: SAS Institute Inc. 2010.;
  • SAS® 9.2 Language Reference: Dictionary. Third Edition. Cary, NC: SAS Institute Inc. 2010.;
  • Base SAS® 9.2 Procedures Guide: Statistical Procedures. Third Edition. Cary, NC: SAS Institute Inc. 2010.;
  • Other documentation and material provided by the teacher.

Teaching method

The course is based on theoretical and practical lessons that include exposure of concepts and syntax of the SAS programming language, as well as the resolution of examples and problems through intensive use of the computer, including discussion of alternative resolutions. A set of exercises to be completed independently in extra-classroom context is also proposed.

Evaluation method

Final exam (100%) in both evaluation calls.
 

Subject matter

The course is organized in seven Learning Units (LU):
LU1. Introduction to the SAS System
- Interface and basic concepts
- SAS programs
- SAS data sets
- SAS data libraries
LU2. Data access
- Reading data from unstructured files
- Entering data directly in the program
- Reading data from structured files
LU3. Data modification
- Reading an existing data set
- Variable selection
- Observation selection
- Descriptive labels
- Creating variables and assigning values
- SAS functions
- Creating variables conditionally
- Using a value in a later observation
LU4. Combining data sets
- Concatenating data sets
- Merging data sets
LU5. Production of reports
- Simple reports
- Displaying totals and subtotals
- Processing groups of data
- Titles, formats and labels
LU6. Some statistical procedures
- PROC FREQ
- PROC MEANS
- PROC UNIVARIATE
- PROC TABULATE
- PROC CORR
- PROC NPAR1WAY (self-study)
LU7. Advanced topics in data modification
- Exporting SAS data
- Converting character and numeric data
- Simultaneous creation of multiple data sets
- Processing data with DO loops
- Processing data with arrays
- SQL procedure