Skip to main content

New to Dartmouth?

Resources for:

Information Security

Connect with Computing

Statistical Software Support

Introduction

Statistical computing covers the use of statistics and supported statistical packages on all of Computing Services' public systems, including UNIX, Macintosh, and Windows platforms.

Supported packages include Stata, SPSS, and SAS. Support not only includes accessing and installing these packages, but also includes assistance with the program basics, writing code, and choosing appropriate analyses. In addition, we can help you with transferring data between applications or platforms.

Some statistical software is available on Research Computing's UNIX hosts; Research Computing accounts are required for these systems. Others are available for the desktop, and can be downloaded and installed from the Software Downloads web page.

To request an Research Computing account:

Software

Program

Platforms

Users

Stata

Macintosh, Windows, UNIX

Novice to expert

SPSS

Macintosh, Windows

Novice to expert

SAS

Windows, UNIX

Intermediate to expert

  • Stata - (download Macintosh/ Windows) A general-purpose statistical package that can do extensive analyses and fair graphs. It is mostly syntax driven, with limited menus. KeyServed.
  • SPSS - A general-purpose statistical package that can do extensive analyses and good graphs. Menu or syntax driven. Licensed only for use on machines that are owned by the college. License-managed.
  • SAS - A general-purpose statistical package, database manager, and graphics package that can do extensive analyses and fair graphs. Mostly syntax driven with limited menus. SAS is available on the Research Computing UNIX hosts. Also, a limited number of desktop licenses are available for faculty members to lease on a yearly basis.

In addition to the programs listed above, other desktop and UNIX applications can be used for data analysis or similar activities. Examples include data visualization packages, data transfer tools, spreadsheet programs, open-source stat software, and graphing programs.

Support

Jianjun Hua provides consulting support for statistical applications or other statistics-related questions. Jianjun can be contacted at 646-6552 or by e-mailing statistical.consulting@dartmouth.edu.

Documentation

General Computing

Online Documentation for SAS

Handouts and Notes for Classes 

Dartmouth SAS User's Group

The Dartmouth Institute Area SAS User's Group (TDIASUG) is a volunteer local users group formed in 2000 for users of The SAS System in New Hampshire and Vermont. Its mission is to provide a forum that will give each member an opportunity to improve and develop their SAS skills. Meetings are held three to four times a year at The Dartmouth Institute, located in Lebanon; they typically include one or two presentations on SAS products and coding techniques and also allow time for networking with peers and presenters.

Data Sources

The best resource for locating and obtaining data sets pertinent to your research needs are the reference librarians. Subject specialists are available to help in virtually every academic discipline. See Get Reference Help.

The Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research, ICPSR, is a repository of a wide variety of social science data sets. Data sets can be downloaded, along with code books describing the data files. In addition, syntax files are often available to read raw data sets into statistical programs like SPSS and SAS. Faculty with general questions about ICPSR should contact our local representative, Barbara Mellert.

Another important source of data is the U.S. Census Bureau. In addition, the Minnesota Population Center at the University of Minnesota is a warehouse for Integrated Public Use Microdata Series (IPUMS). If you have questions about obtaining or working with census or IPUMS data, contact the Government Documents librarian, John Cocklin.

Other Resources

  • An Electronic Textbook for statistics.
  • Online Statistical Calculations tools.
  • Second Moment is a Web site designed to showcase academic research, create discussion in the field of applied statistics, and provide links to other statistical sites.
  • Feeling lucky? Take a Chance. This a great magazine with interesting applications and discussions of probability and statistics.
  • The Journal of Statistical Software publishes descriptions and reviews of software useful for statisticians.

Last Updated: 4/17/12