Stata 10.0

Stata is a statistical software package developed and distributed by StataCorp LP, a company based in Texas, USA. The software is designed to offer comprehensive data analysis, management, and visualization capabilities for users in research, academic, and business settings.

The core functionality of Stata includes data manipulation, descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, and graphics. Users can easily import data from various sources, such as Excel spreadsheets, SAS and SPSS files, and databases. The software also supports a wide range of statistical tests and models including regression analysis, time series analysis, survival analysis, and multiple imputation. Users can create publication-quality graphs with customizable options for style and formatting.

In addition to the core functionality, Stata offers many additional features such as the ability to program custom commands using its integrated programming language, Mata. Stata also supports data management features including creating new variables, handling missing data, and merging datasets.

Stata is widely used in social science research, public health studies, marketing research, and economics. It is known for its ease of use and produces high-quality output in a fraction of the time compared to other statistical software packages.

• Pros: Powerful statistical analysis capabilities; easy-to-use interface; customizable graphics; versatile data management features; supports programming.
• Cons: Expensive; requires a learning curve to use all the available features effectively.