Systems, methods, and logic for generating statistical research information

Abstract

In one embodiment, a system for generating a statistical analysis output is disclosed. The system receives and processes input from a user to perform statistical analysis and generate an output. The input includes at least one statistical variable from a plurality of statistical variables in a dataset, statistical modules adopted for analysis, and output formats. The system includes a processing unit configured to: automatically identify statistical variables in the dataset; automatically generate a program code for obtaining a variable distribution; select at least one statistical variable for statistical analysis; select one or more of the at least one statistical variable and automatically generate programs that implement the statistical functions for manipulating the variables; automatically perform statistical analysis based on the statistical modules by executing program codes associated with the modules; and automatically generate a program code for organizing outcomes of the statistical analysis into the user selected output formats.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Logic encoded in one or more non-transient tangible media that includes code for execution and when executed by a processor is operable to perform operations comprising:
 receiving a set of input including at least one statistical variable selected for analysis from a plurality of statistical variables contained in a dataset, one or more statistical modules adopted for specific analysis, and one or more output formats;   automatically identifying each of the plurality of statistical variables in the dataset;   for each identified statistical variable, automatically generating a program code for obtaining a variable distribution;   selecting from the identified variables in the dataset at least one statistical variable for statistical analysis based on the variable distribution;   if the user input includes a selection of one or more statistical functions for manipulating variables, selecting one or more of the at least one statistical variable and automatically generating program codes that implement the selected statistical functions for manipulating the one or more selected variables;   automatically performing statistical analysis based on the one or more statistical modules by executing program codes associated with the modules; and   automatically generating a program code for organizing outcomes of the statistical analysis into the user selected output formats.   
     
     
         2 . The logic of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise displaying the variable distribution of the each identified statistical variable. 
     
     
         3 . The logic of  claim 2 , wherein the variable distribution is displayed through a graphical user interface. 
     
     
         4 . The logic of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise creating a data distribution file for storing the variable distributions of the identified statistical variables. 
     
     
         5 . The logic of  claim 4 , wherein creating the data distribution file includes automatically generating a program code for generating the data distribution file. 
     
     
         6 . The logic of  claim 4 , wherein the data distribution file maintains a specific format for organizing the variable distributions. 
     
     
         7 . The logic of  claim 4 , wherein the data distribution file maintains at least one of a spreadsheet file format, a text file format, and a graphical file format. 
     
     
         8 . The logic of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise saving the analysis output in one or more output files. 
     
     
         9 . The logic of  claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise using the one or more output files to modify the statistical analysis. 
     
     
         10 . The logic of  claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise using the one or more output files to make additional statistical analysis. 
     
     
         11 . The logic of  claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise combining the output files containing different instances of the statistical analysis into a new output file. 
     
     
         12 . The logic of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise categorizing the each identified statistical variables as one of a continuous variable and a discrete variable. 
     
     
         13 . The logic of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise automatically recalculating distribution of the manipulated statistic variables. 
     
     
         14 . The logic of  claim 1 , wherein the statistical functions include recoding, categorizing, and standardizing an existing statistical variable and creating a new statistical variable. 
     
     
         15 . The logic of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise automatically generating a program code for creating a separate dataset that includes the manipulated statistical variables. 
     
     
         16 . The logic of  claim 1 , wherein the program codes include SAS program codes and R program codes. 
     
     
         17 . The logic of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise publishing the statistical analysis output, if the user input includes a parameter indicating that the user wishes to publish the output. 
     
     
         18 . The logic of  claim 17 , wherein the statistical analysis output is published in a web site. 
     
     
         19 . A method for generating a statistical analysis output, in which the method receives and processes a set of input from a user to perform statistical analysis and generate an output based on outcomes of the analysis, wherein the user input includes at least one statistical variable selected for analysis from a plurality of statistical variables contained in a dataset, one or more statistical modules adopted for specific analysis, and one or more output formats and wherein the statistical analysis are performed based on the selected statistical modules, the method comprising:
 automatically identifying each of the plurality of statistical variables in the dataset;   for each identified statistical variable, automatically generating a program code for obtaining a variable distribution;   selecting from the identified variables in the dataset at least one statistical variable for statistical analysis based on the variable distribution;   if the user input includes a selection of one or more statistical functions for manipulating variables, selecting one or more of the at least one statistical variable and automatically generating program codes that implement the selected statistical functions for manipulating the one or more variables;   automatically performing statistical analysis based on the one or more statistical modules by executing program codes associated with the modules; and   automatically generating a program code for organizing outcomes of the statistical analysis into the user selected output formats.   
     
     
         20 . The statistical analysis method of  claim 19 , further comprising displaying the variable distribution of the each identified statistical variable. 
     
     
         21 . The statistical analysis method of  claim 19 , further comprising creating a data distribution file for storing the variable distributions of the identified statistical variables. 
     
     
         22 . The statistical analysis method of  claim 21 , wherein a separate program code is generated to organize the data distribution file. 
     
     
         23 . The statistical analysis method of  claim 21 , wherein the data distribution file maintains a specific format for organizing the variable distributions. 
     
     
         24 . The statistical analysis method of  claim 21 , wherein the data distribution file maintains one of a spreadsheet file format and a text file format. 
     
     
         25 . The statistical analysis method of  claim 19 , further comprising categorizing the each identified statistical variable as one of a continuous variable and a discrete variable. 
     
     
         26 . The statistical analysis method of  claim 19 , further comprising automatically recalculating distribution of the manipulated statistic variables. 
     
     
         27 . The statistical analysis method of  claim 19 , wherein the statistical functions includes recoding, categorizing, and standardizing an existing statistical variable and creating a new statistical variable. 
     
     
         28 . The statistical analysis method of  claim 19 , further comprising saving the analysis output into one or more output files. 
     
     
         29 . The statistical analysis method of  claim 28 , further comprising using the one or more output files to modify the statistical analysis. 
     
     
         30 . The statistical analysis method of  claim 28 , further comprising using the one or more output files to make additional statistical analysis. 
     
     
         31 . The statistical analysis method of  claim 28 , further comprising combining the output files containing different instances of the statistical analysis into a new output file. 
     
     
         32 . The statistical analysis method of  claim 19 , wherein the program codes include SAS program codes and R program codes. 
     
     
         33 . The statistical analysis method of  claim 19 , further comprising publishing the statistical analysis output, if the user input includes a parameter indicating that the user wishes to publish the output. 
     
     
         34 . The statistical analysis method of  claim 33 , wherein the statistical analysis is published in a web site. 
     
     
         35 . The logic of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise uploading the dataset by at least one of selecting a file destination and copying data from a source. 
     
     
         36 . The logic of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise displaying the program code.