I think you can ensure that one bin is centred on zero
by using the -start()- and -width()- options of -histogram-.
However, -start()- must be at or below the minimum value
for this to work as you want.
A similar comment applies to kernel density estimation.
You might find the -range- command useful.
In either case, a little mental arithmetic may be necessary.
So if I go
... , start(-0.025) width(0.01)
I ensure than one bin is from -0.005 to 0.005.
Nick
[email protected]
Aim�e R. Dechter
>
> I would like to analyze the univariate distribution of a continuous
> variable where the vast majority of observations have a single value,
> zero. I would be grateful for advice on how to handle the bins of the
> histograms and kernel density estimates that I am graphing.
> Specifically I
> would like to find out how I can ensure two things: 1) that
> Stata always
> uses the value 0 for one of its point estimates, and 2) that
> Stata always
> create bins, such that the bin that includes the value 0 will
> always be
> centered around 0. Both restrictions are especially important when
> comparing the histograms and kernel density across sub-populations. I
> would be very grateful for any information on how I might be
> able to do
> these two things.
>
> FYI: The minimum value for the continuous variable is less
> than zero and
> the maximum is greater than zero. I am looking at the univariate
> distribution of several variables, including the absolute difference
> between two continuous measures, the ratio, the log of the ratio, the
> proportionate difference, etc., and trying to see how the
> distributions of
> each of these variables differ between two or more subpopulations.
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