New functions for random-samples generation using Stata 15

In the 2017 Spanish Stata Users Group meeting, held in Madrid on 19 October, we introduced some functions for generating random samples from continuous and discrete distributions using Stata 13. In this presentation, I will show new extensions of such functions updated for Stata 15. I will describe their syntax and show different examples of use. I will also compare the new developed functions with the built-in Stata ones and with the function rsample. The goodness of the generated samples will be checked using the mean squared error (MSE) of the differences between the frequencies of the sample and the theoretical expected ones. I will also provide bar charts that will allow the user to graphically compare the sample with the exact distribution function of the random distribution being sampled. Graphics capabilities are included in the new developed functions so that the distribution of the generated sample can be displayed. This fact is useful in the teaching and learning process in subjects, which deals with statistics. Specifically, this educational approach has been considered when teaching statistics in the Health Engineering degree of the University of Málaga (Spain).