1. [title of your research project] [author] INST 381 Fall 2015

2. Research Question [Empirical puzzle or theoretical debate] [photo, picture, or infographics optional]

3. Causal Theory Literature Review [Your contribution]

4. Hypotheses Hypothesis 1: – [all else being equal,...] Hypothesis 2: – [all else being equal,...]

5. Dependent Variable Conceptual definition: – [] Operational definition: – []

6. Independent Variable(s) Conceptual definition: – [] Operational definition: – []

7. 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]

8. Descriptive Statistics Variablesminmeanmedianmaxstandard deviation % missing [varname]

9. [descriptive charts optional] [bar, line, histogram, and/or scatterplot...]

10. Regression Model [name of dependent variable] = β 0 + β 1 *[name of 1st independent variable] + β 2 *[name of 2nd independent variable] + β 3 *[possible interaction between two independent variables if applicable] + β 4 *[name of another independent or control variable in the regression model] + [...]

11. [sample] Regression Results variablesCoefficient estimate Standard 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-square0.1330.1560.177 N200 *: p<0.1; **: p<0.05; ***: p<0.01

12. 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]

13. 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].

14. 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].

15. 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].