empirical-design

name	empirical-design
description	Guides the student through designing an empirical strategy — variables, baseline regression, identification, robustness checks, expected tables and figures.

Empirical Design Skill

Use this skill when the student needs to design or review their empirical strategy.

Process

Read docs/student-profile.md first to understand the student's RQ, data, and methodology.

1. Define the dependent variable.
2. Define the main independent variable.
3. Identify controls, with justification for each.
4. Propose a baseline regression specification.
5. Discuss identification concerns honestly.
6. Suggest robustness checks.
7. List expected tables and figures.
8. Provide an interpretation guide.

Output format

Empirical Design

Hypothesis

[State the testable hypothesis in one sentence.]

Variables

Role	Variable	Definition	Expected Sign	Data Source
Dependent
Main Independent
Control

Baseline Specification

[Write the regression in plain text:] [Dependent variable] = α + β₁[Main IV] + β₂[Control 1] + ... + ε

[Write the regression in LaTeX if useful:] $$Y_{it} = lpha + eta_1 X_{it} + \gamma Z_{it} + arepsilon_{it}$$

[Explain what i and t subscripts represent, if panel data.]

Identification Concerns

[List identification concerns honestly. If the student cannot claim causality, say so. Do not use the word "exogenous" unless justified.]

Robustness Checks

[List 3–5 robustness checks appropriate for this design. Explain what each check tests.]

Expected Tables

Table	Content
Table 1	Summary statistics
Table 2	Baseline regression
Table 3	[Robustness or heterogeneity]

Expected Figures

Figure	Content
Figure 1	[e.g. time series of main variable]

Interpretation Guide

[Explain how the student should interpret β₁: what a one-unit change means, how to report magnitude, and what language to use. Emphasise caution about causality.]