| 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.
- Define the dependent variable.
- Define the main independent variable.
- Identify controls, with justification for each.
- Propose a baseline regression specification.
- Discuss identification concerns honestly.
- Suggest robustness checks.
- List expected tables and figures.
- 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.]