[title of your research project]
[author]
INST 381
Fall 2015
Research Question
• [Empirical puzzle or theoretical debate]
• [photo, picture, or infographics optional]
Causal Theory
• Literature Review
• [Your contribution]
Hypotheses
• Hypothesis 1:
– [all else being equal, ...]
• Hypothesis 2:
– [all else being equal, ...]
Dependent Variable
• Conceptual definition:
– []
• Operational definition:
– []
Independent Variable(s)
• Conceptual definition:
– []
– []
• Operational definition:
– []
– []
The Data
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
[brief description/citation of the data]
[principal investigators]
[geographic coverage]
[time period/date of collection]
[unit of observation, e.g. individuals, states ...]
[sampling method]
[how the data was collected]
Descriptive Statistics
Variables
[varname]
[varname]
[varname]
[varname]
[varname]
[varname]
[varname]
[varname]
[varname]
[varname]
[varname]
min
mean
median
max
standard
deviation
% missing
[descriptive charts optional]
• [bar, line, histogram, and/or scatterplot ...]
Regression Model
• [name of dependent variable] = β0 + β1*[name
of 1st independent variable] + β2*[name of
2nd independent variable] + β3*[possible
interaction between two independent
variables if applicable] + β4*[name of another
independent or control variable in the
regression model] + [...]
[sample] Regression Results
variables
Standard
error
Coefficient
estimate
Standard Coefficient Standard
error
estimate
error
(Constant) 12.325***
(3.194)
11.785***
(3.187)
11.316***
(3.199)
[variable]
0.389***
(0.074)
0.354***
(0.073)
0.389***
(0.072)
[variable]
-2.010*
(1.023)
-1.910
(1.021)
-2.010*
(1.029)
[variable]
4.887*
(2.454)
4.239
(2.544)
[variable]
-0.020
(0.020)
-0.019
(0.020)
...
0.389***
(0.072)
...
-2.010*
(1.029)
...
4.239
(2.544)
R-square
N
Coefficient
estimate
0.133
0.156
0.177
200
200
200
*: p<0.1; **: p<0.05; ***: p<0.01
Estimated Regression Equation(s)
• [name of dependent variable] = [value of
coefficient estimate] + [value of coefficient
estimate]*[name of 1st independent variable]
+ [value of coefficient estimate]*[name of 2nd
independent variable] + [value of coefficient
estimate]*[name of another independent or
control variable in the regression model] + [...]
• [if interaction write two separate equations]
Interpret the Regression Results
• The regression coefficient for [1st
independent variable] is [/not] statistically
significant at the 5 per cent level.
• Controlling for the other variables, a one-unit
increase in the [1st independent variable] is
associated with a [value of the coefficient
estimate] [increase/decrease] in the [name of
the dependent variable].
Interpret the Regression Results
• The regression coefficient for [2nd
independent variable] is [/not] statistically
significant at the 5 per cent level.
• Controlling for the other variables, a one-unit
increase in the [2nd independent variable] is
associated with a [value of the coefficient
estimate] [increase/decrease] in the [name of
the dependent variable].
Interpret the Regression Results
• [other interesting findings from the
regression, such as changes in the value of
adjusted R-square, coefficient estimates for
interaction terms and/or for other control
variables].