SAS[R in circle] Programming for Researchers and Social Scientists

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Summary: Very pleased!
Review: Received my book in excellent condition and in a very timely manner! Thanks so much!

Rating:
Summary: A good introduction to the logic of SAS programming
Review: This text is a good introduction to the logic of how to program in SAS to do data manipulation as preparation for statistical analysis with the SAS/STAT system.

It begins with a cursory introduction to SAS, emphasizing the need to properly plan your data processing and analysis, the logic of debugging, etc. From there the following chapters cover data step data manipulation and processing, functions and the addition of new variables to a dataset using functions, and a good treatment of the IF-THEN-ELSE statements including loop counters. The following chapters cover branching, DO loops, and data manipulation with arrays. The treatment of DO loops and arrays in particular is especially good; very helpful in teaching one the logic of how they work.

This book, however, is NOT one to get if you are looking for examples of SAS programs. Each chapter makes use of only one or two programs, each written with the sole purpose of illustrating how particular commands work and what they produce. You won't find any examples of how to program an ANOVA or a T-test here, or other examples of SAS/STAT programs.

Also, you should have some background in SAS already, namely you should know how to write a basic data step, how to write a basic PROC step, and the order hierarchy of commands in the steps. This book is NOT a basic introduction to SAS.

For an exceptional introduction to SAS for green newbies, get Hatcher and Stepanski's book (ISBN 1-55544-634-5) and for examples, you should look to Cody and Smith (ISBN 0-13-743642-4).