Computer Programming in Quantitative Analysis

Computer programming in quantitative analysis refers to the process of creating computer “code”—or instructions that a computer can interpret—to automate quantitative summaries of data. Due to the advent of powerful personal computers, high-level programming languages, and the increasing availability of high-performance computing clusters, such programming is becoming increasingly used and important in both publicly funded research and private and commercial settings. Such computer programming may take many different forms depending on the purpose of the quantitative analysis. This entry provides an overview of particular use cases for computer programming—progressing from the most basic to the most complex—integrated with the introduction of programming concepts.