[title of your research project]

[author]INST 381Fall 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 StatisticsVariables min mean median max standard

deviation% missing

[varname]

[varname]

[varname]

[varname]

[varname]

[varname]

[varname]

[varname]

[varname]

[varname]

[varname]

[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 Resultsvariables Coefficient

estimateStandard error

Coefficient estimate

Standard error

Coefficient estimate

Standard 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 0.133 0.156 0.177

N 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].