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SAS is statistical software created by SAS Institute, Inc which is used by large organizations, including many public agencies, to do data management and analysis. SAS is preferred (and most often used) when working with very large datasets because it does not require a powerful computer to do so (it does not store data in RAM). Although and perhaps because it is very powerful, the syntax is difficult to learn. Social Scientists who do not intend to work at one of the public agencies and do not work with extremely large data sets might consider learning R or Stata instead.
SAS is primarily a language that lets you work with data. But, there are various interfaces that you could use, and it is generally best to start with a tutorial that uses the same one as you. See screenshots and commentary about the three main interfaces at: What's your SAS interface?
Videos from SAS unless otherwise specified.
1. If you are using one of these special SAS programs, start here to learn how to log in and work with files.
2. Learn about your interface (What's your SAS interface?)
3. Learn the basics of the SAS Language
4. Keep Reminders and Reference Sources Handy
The Little SAS Book by
A classic that just keeps getting better, The Little SAS Book is essential for anyone learning SAS programming. Lora Delwiche and Susan Slaughter offer a user-friendly approach so that readers can quickly and easily learn the most commonly used features of the SAS language. Each topic is presented in a self-contained, two-page layout complete with examples and graphics. Nearly every section has been revised to ensure that the sixth edition is fully up-to-date. This edition is also interface-independent, written for all SAS programmers whether they use SAS Studio, SAS Enterprise Guide, or the SAS windowing environment. New sections have been added covering PROC SQL, iterative DO loops, DO WHILE and DO UNTIL statements, %DO statements, using variable names with special characters, the ODS EXCEL destination, and the XLSX LIBNAME engine. This title belongs on every SAS programmer's bookshelf. It's a resource not just to get you started, but one you will return to as you continue to improve your programming skills.
See the latest collection from the catalog. A classic favorite that is routinely updated. Focused on the language and does not cover the interfaces or their differences. Suggests watching the Getting Started videos above for your interface. See also the companion Exercises and Projects.
Learning SAS® by Example by
Learning SAS® by Example: A Programmer's Guide, Second Edition, teaches SAS programming from very basic concepts to more advanced topics. Because most programmers prefer examples rather than reference-type syntax, this book uses short examples to explain each topic. The second edition has brought this classic book on SAS programming up to the latest SAS version, with new chapters that cover topics such as PROC SGPLOT and Perl regular expressions.
Step-By-Step Programming with Base SAS 9. 4, Second Edition by
Provides conceptual information about the SAS programming language, as well as step-by-step examples that illustrate the concepts.
Links directly to relevant pages in the following useful resources