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Speaking Stata: Distinct observations

Author

Listed:
  • Nicholas J. Cox

    (Durham University, UK)

  • Gary M. Longton

    (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle)

Abstract

Distinct observations are those different with respect to one or more variables, considered either individually or jointly. Distinctness is thus a key aspect of the similarity or difference of observations. It is sometimes confounded with uniqueness. Counting the number of distinct observations may be required at any point from initial data cleaning or checking to subsequent statistical analysis. We review how far existing commands in official Stata offer solutions to this issue, and we show how to answer questions about distinct observations from first principles by using the by prefix and the egen command. The new distinct command is offered as a convenience tool.

Suggested Citation

  • Nicholas J. Cox & Gary M. Longton, 2008. "Speaking Stata: Distinct observations," Stata Journal, StataCorp LP, vol. 8(4), pages 557-568, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:tsj:stataj:v:8:y:2008:i:4:p:557-568
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Nicholas J. Cox, 2002. "Speaking Stata: How to move step by: step," Stata Journal, StataCorp LP, vol. 2(1), pages 86-102, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Nicholas J. Cox, 2009. "Speaking Stata: Rowwise," Stata Journal, StataCorp LP, vol. 9(1), pages 137-157, March.
    2. Nicholas J. Cox, 2008. "Stata tip 71: The problem of split identity, or how to group dyads," Stata Journal, StataCorp LP, vol. 8(4), pages 588-591, December.
    3. Ignace De Vos & Gerdie Everaert & Ilse Ruyssen, 2015. "Bootstrap-based bias correction and inference for dynamic panels with fixed effects," Stata Journal, StataCorp LP, vol. 15(4), pages 986-1018, December.

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