A workflow for data documentation using Stata

This presentation introduces three commands providing new functionality for high-quality and transparent data handling. First, iecorrect uses human-readable sheets to document and implement all changes (corrections) to data points in one line of Stata code. Second, iecodebook export creates data dictionaries and includes new features for validating the structure or contents of datasets and creating replication datasets. Third, iesave enhances save with the additional features of tracking changes to datasets over time in a Git-friendly way. Altogether, these commands allow users to access data descriptions and changelogs without reviewing Stata code—and allows team members to contribute to data quality control without using Stata. In addition to the commands, the presentation will discuss general challenges of documenting datasets the authorship team solved during their creation.