Staff profile

Nick Cox is interested in statistical applications within geography, including exploratory data analysis, graphics, smoothing, fitting of probability distributions, circular statistics and spatial analysis. Within geomorphology, hydrology and climatology his research has ranged from morphometry and modelling of hillslope, glacial and karstic forms, through analysis of precipitation distributions (e.g. the CSEP model developed with Professor Mike Kirkby of Leeds), to study of temperature variations in the Durham University Observatory record. Nick has developed software in various statistical and mathematical languages, including Stata, Awk and J. He is well-known in the Stata community as a prolific program writer, Chair of Stata London User Meetings (1997, 2000, 2002), former Associate Editor of the Stata Technical Bulletin, Executive Editor of the Stata Journal, and a frequent contributor to Statalist. Some of his programs have been incorporated in Stata 6.0 (1999), 7.0 (2001) and 8.0 (2003) and many others are available at the link below. A long-established interest in the history, methodology and philosophy of geomorphology is currently expressed in joint editorial work on the forthcoming History of the Study of Landforms, volume 4. Nick is also Book Review Editor of Earth Surface Processes and Landforms and an Associate Editor of the Journal of Statistical Software.

• environmental statistics
• geomorphology
• history and methodology of geography
• stata statistical software

Chapter in book

• Rates and mechanisms of change of hard rock steep slopes on the Colorado Plateau, USA.
  
  Kimber, O., Allison, R., & Cox, N. (2002). Rates and mechanisms of change of hard rock steep slopes on the Colorado Plateau, USA. In R. Allison (Ed.), Applied Geomorphology. (pp. 65-89). John Wiley and Sons.
• Listing distinct values of a variable.
  
  Cox, N. (2001). Listing distinct values of a variable. In H. Newton (Ed.), The Stata Technical Bulletin Reports. (pp. 46-49).
• Renaming variables, multiply and systematically.
  
  Cox, N. (2001). Renaming variables, multiply and systematically. In H. Newton (Ed.), The Stata Technical Bulletin Reprints. (pp. 41-44).
• Describing variables in memory: update to Stata 7.0.
  
  Cox, N. (2001). Describing variables in memory: update to Stata 7.0. In H. Newton (Ed.), The Stata Technical Bulletin Reprints.. Stata Corporation.
• Enhancements to numbers of missions and present values.
  
  Cox, N. (2001). Enhancements to numbers of missions and present values. In H. Newton (Ed.), The Stata Technical Bulletin Reprints. (pp. 7-9).

Journal Article

• Stata tip 159: Absent friends: How to plot what is not present
  
  Cox, N. J. (2025). Stata tip 159: Absent friends: How to plot what is not present. The Stata Journal: Promoting Communications on Statistics and Stata, 25(1), 244-251. https://doi.org/10.1177/1536867x251322973
• Speaking Stata: Getting by without the by() option: Some graphics for unequal groups
  
  Cox, N. J. (2024). Speaking Stata: Getting by without the by() option: Some graphics for unequal groups. Stata Journal, 24(4), 766-776. https://doi.org/10.1177/1536867X241297949
• Stata tip 158: The devil is in the delta
  
  Cox, N. J. (2024). Stata tip 158: The devil is in the delta. Stata Journal, 24(4), 777-783. https://doi.org/10.1177/1536867X241297950
• Stata tip 156: Concentration and diversity measures using egen
  
  Cox, N. J. (2024). Stata tip 156: Concentration and diversity measures using egen. The Stata Journal: Promoting Communications on Statistics and Stata, 24(3), 535-545. https://doi.org/10.1177/1536867x241276115
• Speaking Stata: Quantile–quantile plots, generalized
  
  Cox, N. J. (2024). Speaking Stata: Quantile–quantile plots, generalized. The Stata Journal: Promoting Communications on Statistics and Stata, 24(3), 514-534. https://doi.org/10.1177/1536867x241276114
• Stata tip 157: Adding extra lines to graphs
  
  Cox, N. J. (2024). Stata tip 157: Adding extra lines to graphs. The Stata Journal: Promoting Communications on Statistics and Stata, 24(3), 546-550. https://doi.org/10.1177/1536867x241276116
• Speaking Stata: The joy of sets: Graphical alternatives to Euler and Venn diagrams
  
  Cox, N. J., & Morris, T. P. (2024). Speaking Stata: The joy of sets: Graphical alternatives to Euler and Venn diagrams. The Stata Journal: Promoting Communications on Statistics and Stata, 24(2), 329-361. https://doi.org/10.1177/1536867x241258010
• Speaking Stata: Finding the denominator: Minimum sample size from percentages
  
  Cox, N. J. (2023). Speaking Stata: Finding the denominator: Minimum sample size from percentages. The Stata Journal: Promoting Communications on Statistics and Stata, 23(4), 1086-1095. https://doi.org/10.1177/1536867x231212453
• Speaking Stata: Replacing missing values: The easiest problems
  
  Cox, N. J. (2023). Speaking Stata: Replacing missing values: The easiest problems. The Stata Journal: Promoting Communications on Statistics and Stata, 23(3), 884-896. https://doi.org/10.1177/1536867x231196519
• Stata tip 151: Puzzling out some logical operators
  
  Cox, N. J. (2023). Stata tip 151: Puzzling out some logical operators. The Stata Journal: Promoting Communications on Statistics and Stata, 23(1). https://doi.org/10.1177/1536867x231162009
• Stata tip 145: Numbering weeks within months
  
  Cox, N. J. (2022). Stata tip 145: Numbering weeks within months. The Stata Journal: Promoting Communications on Statistics and Stata, 22(1). https://doi.org/10.1177/1536867x221083928
• Speaking Stata: Automating axis labels: Nice numbers and transformed scales
  
  Cox, N. J. (2022). Speaking Stata: Automating axis labels: Nice numbers and transformed scales. The Stata Journal: Promoting Communications on Statistics and Stata, 22(4), 975-995. https://doi.org/10.1177/1536867x221141058
• Stata tip 148: Searching for words within strings
  
  Cox, N. J. (2022). Stata tip 148: Searching for words within strings. The Stata Journal: Promoting Communications on Statistics and Stata, 22(4), 998-1003. https://doi.org/10.1177/1536867x221141068
• Speaking Stata: The largest five - A tale of tail values
  
  Cox, N. J. (2022). Speaking Stata: The largest five - A tale of tail values. The Stata Journal: Promoting Communications on Statistics and Stata, 22(2), 446-459. https://doi.org/10.1177/1536867x221106436
• Stata tip 141: Adding marginal spike histograms to quantile and cumulative distribution plots
  
  Cox, N. J. (2021). Stata tip 141: Adding marginal spike histograms to quantile and cumulative distribution plots. The Stata Journal: Promoting Communications on Statistics and Stata, 21(3), 838-846. https://doi.org/10.1177/1536867x211045583
• Speaking Stata: Ordering or ranking groups of observations
  
  Cox, N. J. (2021). Speaking Stata: Ordering or ranking groups of observations. The Stata Journal: Promoting Communications on Statistics and Stata, 21(3), 818-837. https://doi.org/10.1177/1536867x211045582
• Speaking Stata: Front-and-back plots to ease spaghetti and paella problems
  
  Cox, N. J. (2021). Speaking Stata: Front-and-back plots to ease spaghetti and paella problems. The Stata Journal: Promoting Communications on Statistics and Stata, 21(2), 539-554. https://doi.org/10.1177/1536867x211025838
• Stata tip 140: Shorter or fewer category labels with graph bar
  
  Cox, N. J. (2021). Stata tip 140: Shorter or fewer category labels with graph bar. The Stata Journal: Promoting Communications on Statistics and Stata, 21(1), 263-271. https://doi.org/10.1177/1536867x211000032
• Stata tip 144: Adding variable text to graphs that use a by() option
  
  Cox, N. J. (2021). Stata tip 144: Adding variable text to graphs that use a by() option. The Stata Journal: Promoting Communications on Statistics and Stata, 21(4). https://doi.org/10.1177/1536867x211063413
• Speaking Stata: Loops in parallel
  
  Cox, N. J. (2021). Speaking Stata: Loops in parallel. The Stata Journal: Promoting Communications on Statistics and Stata, 21(4). https://doi.org/10.1177/1536867x211063415
• Stata tip 139: The by() option of graph can work better than graph combine
  
  Cox, N. J. (2020). Stata tip 139: The by() option of graph can work better than graph combine. The Stata Journal: Promoting Communications on Statistics and Stata, 20(4), 1016-1027. https://doi.org/10.1177/1536867x20976341
• Speaking Stata: Loops, again and again
  
  Cox, N. J. (2020). Speaking Stata: Loops, again and again. The Stata Journal: Promoting Communications on Statistics and Stata, 20(4). https://doi.org/10.1177/1536867x20976340
• Fan‐surface evidence for debris‐flow avulsion controls and probabilities, Saline Valley, California
  
  Haas, T., Densmore, A., Hond, T., & Cox, N. (2019). Fan‐surface evidence for debris‐flow avulsion controls and probabilities, Saline Valley, California. Journal of Geophysical Research. Earth Surface., 124(5), 1118-1138. https://doi.org/10.1029/2018jf004815
• Comparability of cirque size and shape measures between regions and between researchers
  
  Evans, I., & Cox, N. (2017). Comparability of cirque size and shape measures between regions and between researchers. Zeitschrift für Geomorphologie, 61(2), 81-103. https://doi.org/10.1127/zfg_suppl/2016/0329
• Rapid, climate-driven changes in outlet glaciers on the Pacific coast of East Antarctica
  
  Miles, B., Stokes, C., Vieli, A., & Cox, N. (2013). Rapid, climate-driven changes in outlet glaciers on the Pacific coast of East Antarctica. Nature, 500(7464), 563-566. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature12382
• Terrestrial laser scanning soil surfaces: a field methodology to examine soil surface roughness and overland flow hydraulics.
  
  Smith, M., Cox, N., & Bracken, L. (2011). Terrestrial laser scanning soil surfaces: a field methodology to examine soil surface roughness and overland flow hydraulics. Hydrological Processes, 25(6), 842-860. https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.7871
• Modeling depth distributions of overland flows.
  
  Smith, M., Cox, N., & Bracken, L. (2011). Modeling depth distributions of overland flows. Geomorphology, 125(3), 402-413. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2010.10.017
• The relationship between rainfall inputs and flood generation in south-east Spain
  
  Bracken, L., Cox, N., & Shannon, J. (2008). The relationship between rainfall inputs and flood generation in south-east Spain. Hydrological Processes, 22(5), 683-696. https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.6641
• Fitting concentration and load rating curves with generalised linear models
  
  Cox, N., Warburton, J., Armstrong, A., & Holliday, V. (2008). Fitting concentration and load rating curves with generalised linear models. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 33(1), 25-39. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.1523
• Kernel estimation as a basic tool for geomorphological data analysis
  
  Cox, N. (2007). Kernel estimation as a basic tool for geomorphological data analysis. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 32(12), 1902-1912. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.1518
• Kinds and problems of geomorphological explanation
  
  Cox, N. (2007). Kinds and problems of geomorphological explanation. Geomorphology, 88(1-2), 46-56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2006.10.009
• Daily mean sea level pressure reconstructions for the European-North Atlantic region for the period 1850-2003.
  
  Ansell, T., Jones, P., Allan, R., Lister, D., Parker, D., Brunet, M., Moberg, A., Jacobeit, J., Brohan, P., Rayner, N., Aguilar, E., Alexandersson, H., Barriendos, M., Brandsma, T., Cox, N., Della-Marta, P., Drebs, A., Founda, D., Gerstengarbe, F., … Xoplaki, E. (2007). Daily mean sea level pressure reconstructions for the European-North Atlantic region for the period 1850-2003. Journal of Climate, 19, 2717-2742.
• Speaking Stata: Turning over a new leaf
  
  Cox, N. (2007). Speaking Stata: Turning over a new leaf. The Stata Journal, 7(3), 413-433.
• Making it count.
  
  Cox, N. (2007). Making it count. The Stata Journal, 7, 117-130.
• Bin smoothing and summary on scatter plots.
  
  Cox, N. (2007). Bin smoothing and summary on scatter plots. The Stata Journal, 6.
• Remainders, selections, sequences, extractions: uses of the modulus.
  
  Cox, N. (2007). Remainders, selections, sequences, extractions: uses of the modulus. The Stata Journal, 7, 143-145.
• Sweet sixteen: Hexadecimal formats and precision problems.
  
  Cox, N. (2006). Sweet sixteen: Hexadecimal formats and precision problems. The Stata Journal, 6, 282-283.
• Assessing agreement of measurements and predictions in geomorphology
  
  Cox, N. (2006). Assessing agreement of measurements and predictions in geomorphology. Geomorphology, 76(3-4), 332-346. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2005.12.001
• In praise of trigonometric predictors.
  
  Cox, N. (2006). In praise of trigonometric predictors. The Stata Journal, 6, 561-579.
• Quantile plots, generalized.
  
  Cox, N. (2006). Quantile plots, generalized. The Stata Journal, 6.
• Graphs for all seasons.
  
  Cox, N. (2006). Graphs for all seasons. The Stata Journal, 6, 397-419.
• Concordance correlation coefficient and associated measurement, tests and graphs.
  
  Stichen, T., & Cox, N. (2006). Concordance correlation coefficient and associated measurement, tests and graphs. The Stata Journal, 6(2).
• Stata tip 36 : which observations?
  
  Cox, N. (2006). Stata tip 36 : which observations?. The Stata Journal, 6(3), 430-432.
• Time of day.
  
  Cox, N. (2006). Time of day. The Stata Journal, 6, 124-137.
• In a list or out?
  
  Cox, N. (2006). In a list or out?. The Stata Journal, 6, 593-595.
• May the source be with you.
  
  Cox, N. (2006). May the source be with you. The Stata Journal, 6, 149-150.
• A multivariable scatterplot smoother
  
  Royston, P., & Cox, N. (2005). A multivariable scatterplot smoother. The Stata Journal, 5(3), 405-412.
• Relative sea level curves for the South Shetland Islands and Marguerite Bay, Antarctic Peninsula
  
  Bentley, M., Hodgson, D., Smith, J., & Cox, N. (2005). Relative sea level curves for the South Shetland Islands and Marguerite Bay, Antarctic Peninsula. Quaternary Science Reviews, 24(10-11), 1203-1216. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2004.10.004
• The arrows of outrageous fortune.
  
  Cox, N. (2005). The arrows of outrageous fortune. The Stata Journal, 5, 282-284.
• Depending on conditions: a tutorial on the cond() function.
  
  Cox, N. (2005). Depending on conditions: a tutorial on the cond() function. The Stata Journal, 5, 413-420.
• Preliminary relative sea level curves for the South Shetlands and Marguerite Bay regions, Antarctic Peninsula.
  
  Bentley, M., Hodgson, D., Smith, J., & Cox, N. (2005). Preliminary relative sea level curves for the South Shetlands and Marguerite Bay regions, Antarctic Peninsula. Quaternary Science Reviews, 24, 1203-1216.
• Symmetric nearest neighbor linear smoothers.
  
  Sasieni, P., Royston, P., & Cox, N. (2005). Symmetric nearest neighbor linear smoothers. The Stata Journal, 5(2).
• The protean quantile plot.
  
  Cox, N. (2005). The protean quantile plot. The Stata Journal, 5, 442-460.
• Distribution function plots.
  
  Cox, N. (2005). Distribution function plots. The Stata Journal, 5(3), 470-470.
• Classifying data points on scatter plots.
  
  Cox, N. (2005). Classifying data points on scatter plots. Stata, 5(4), 604-606.
• Stata tip 24 : Axis labels on two or more levels.
  
  Cox, N. (2005). Stata tip 24 : Axis labels on two or more levels. The Stata Journal, 5(3), 469-469.
• Renaming variables: multiply and ststematically.
  
  Evans, I., & Cox, N. (2005). Renaming variables: multiply and ststematically. Journal of Glaciology, 51, 469-482.
• A brief history of Stata's first twenty years.
  
  Cox, N. (2005). A brief history of Stata’s first twenty years. The Stata Journal, 5, 2-18.
• Quantile plots, generalized.
  
  Cox, N. (2005). Quantile plots, generalized. The Stata Journal, 5(3), 470-470.
• Sampling without replacement: absolute sample sizes and keeping all observations.
  
  Cox, N. (2005). Sampling without replacement: absolute sample sizes and keeping all observations. The Stata Journal, 5.
• Filling in the gaps.
  
  Cox, N. (2005). Filling in the gaps. The Stata Journal, 5, 135-136.
• Editorial announcements.
  
  Newton, H., & Cox, N. (2005). Editorial announcements. The Stata Journal, 5(3).
• Concordance correlation coefficient and associated measures, tests and graphs.
  
  Steichen, T., & Cox, N. (2005). Concordance correlation coefficient and associated measures, tests and graphs. The Stata Journal, 5(3), 471-471.
• Density probability plots.
  
  Cox, N. (2005). Density probability plots. The Stata Journal, 5, 259-273.
• Graphing categorical and compositional data.
  
  Cox, N. (2004). Graphing categorical and compositional data. The Stata Journal, 4, 190-215.
• Following special sequences.
  
  Cox, N. (2004). Following special sequences. The Stata Journal, 4.
• Graphing model diagnostics.
  
  Cox, N. (2004). Graphing model diagnostics. The Stata Journal, 4, 449-475.
• An evaluation of the use of satellite data for monitoring early development of young Sitka spruce plantation forest growth
  
  Donoghue, D., Watt, P., Cox, N., Dunford, R., Wilson, J., Stables, S., & Smith, S. (2004). An evaluation of the use of satellite data for monitoring early development of young Sitka spruce plantation forest growth. Forestry: An International Journal of Forest Research, 77(5), 383-396. https://doi.org/10.1093/forestry/77.5.383
• Quantile plots, generalized.
  
  Cox, N. (2004). Quantile plots, generalized. The Stata Journal, 4.
• Tuning the plot region aspect ratio.
  
  Cox, N. (2004). Tuning the plot region aspect ratio. The Stata Journal, 4, 357-358.
• Binomial smoothing plot.
  
  Cox, N. (2004). Binomial smoothing plot. The Stata Journal, 4, 490-490.
• Inserting awkward characters in the plot.
  
  Cox, N. (2004). Inserting awkward characters in the plot. The Stata Journal, 4, 95-96.
• Function graphs on the fly.
  
  Cox, N. (2004). Function graphs on the fly. The Stata Journal, 4, 488-489.
• Graphing agreement and disagreement.
  
  Cox, N. (2004). Graphing agreement and disagreement. The Stata Journal, 4, 329-349.
• Graphing distributions.
  
  Cox, N. (2004). Graphing distributions. The Stata Journal, 4, 66-88.
• Do-it-yourself shuffling and the number of runs under randomness.
  
  Smeeton, N., & Cox, N. (2003). Do-it-yourself shuffling and the number of runs under randomness. The Stata Journal, 3(3), 270-277.
• Tabulation of modes.
  
  Cox, N. (2003). Tabulation of modes. The Stata Journal, 3.
• On structure and shape: the case of multiple responses.
  
  Cox, N., & Kohler, U. (2003). On structure and shape: the case of multiple responses. The Stata Journal, 3, 81-99.
• Buildings with floors and ceilings.
  
  Cox, N. (2003). Buildings with floors and ceilings. The Stata Journal, 3, 446-447.
• Problems with tables, Part I.
  
  Cox, N. (2003). Problems with tables, Part I. The Stata Journal, 3, 309-324.
• A special issue of the Stata Journal.
  
  Newton, H., & Cox, N. (2003). A special issue of the Stata Journal. The Stata Journal, 3(4), 327-327.
• Problems with tables, Part II.
  
  Cox, N. (2003). Problems with tables, Part II. The Stata Journal, 3(4), 420-439.
• Numbers of present and missing values.
  
  Cox, N. (2003). Numbers of present and missing values. The Stata Journal, 3(4), 449-449.
• The Stata journal so far: editors' report.
  
  Newton, H., & Cox, N. (2003). The Stata journal so far: editors’ report. The Stata Journal, 3, 105-108.
• Distribution function plots.
  
  Cox, N. (2003). Distribution function plots. The Stata Journal, 3.
• Introducing Stata tips.
  
  Newton, H., & Cox, N. (2003). Introducing Stata tips. The Stata Journal, 3(4), 328-328.
• Problems with lists.
  
  Cox, N. (2003). Problems with lists. The Stata Journal, 3, 185-202.
• On getting functions to do the work.
  
  Cox, N. (2002). On getting functions to do the work. The Stata Journal, 2, 411-427.
• How to move step by step.
  
  Cox, N. (2002). How to move step by step. The Stata Journal, 2, 86-102.
• On numbers and strings.
  
  Cox, N. (2002). On numbers and strings. The Stata Journal, 2, 314-329.
• How to face lists with fortitude.
  
  Cox, N. (2002). How to face lists with fortitude. The Stata Journal, 2, 202-222.
• A note on the concordance correlation coefficient.
  
  Steiched, T., & Cox, N. (2002). A note on the concordance correlation coefficient. The Stata Journal, 2, 183-189.
• How to repeat yourself without going mad.
  
  Cox, N. (2001). How to repeat yourself without going mad. The Stata Journal, 1, 84-95.
• Sampling without replacement: absolute sample sizes and keeping all observations.
  
  Cox, N. (2001). Sampling without replacement: absolute sample sizes and keeping all observations. Stata Technical Bulletin, 59, 8-9.
• Macroporosity and infiltration in blanket peat: the implications of tension disc infiltrometer measurements.
  
  Holden, J., Burt, T., & Cox, N. (2001). Macroporosity and infiltration in blanket peat: the implications of tension disc infiltrometer measurements. Hydrological Processes, 15(2), 289-303. https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.93
• Plots, generalised: update to Stata 7.0.
  
  Cox, N. (2001). Plots, generalised: update to Stata 7.0. The Stata Technical Bulletin Reprints, 10, 55-56.
• Quantitative geography: Perspectives on spatial data analysis.
  
  Cox, N. (2001). Quantitative geography: Perspectives on spatial data analysis. European Urban and Regional Studies, 8(1), 93-95.
• Renaming variables: changing suffixes.
  
  Jenkins, S., & Cox, N. (2001). Renaming variables: changing suffixes. The Stata Technical Bulletin Reprints, 10, 34-35.
• Dropping variables or observations with missing values.
  
  Cox, N. (2001). Dropping variables or observations with missing values. The Stata Technical Bulletin Reprints, 60(7-8), 44-46.
• The form of glacial cirques in the English Lake District, Cumbria.
  
  Evans, I., & Cox, N. (1995). The form of glacial cirques in the English Lake District, Cumbria. Zeitschrift für Geomorphologie, 39, 175-202.
• Comparison of statistical distributions in geomorphology: a quantile view.
  
  Cox, N. (n.d.). Comparison of statistical distributions in geomorphology: a quantile view. Geomorphology. Advance online publication.
• Suggestions on Stata programming style.
  
  Cox, N. (n.d.). Suggestions on Stata programming style. The Stata Journal, 560-566.
• Global variations of local asymmetry in glacier altitude: separation of north-south and east-west components.
  
  Evans, I., & Cox, N. (n.d.). Global variations of local asymmetry in glacier altitude: separation of north-south and east-west components. Journal of Glaciology. Advance online publication.
• Numbers of present and missing values.
  
  Cox, N. (n.d.). Numbers of present and missing values. Stata. Advance online publication.
• Careful and critical fitting of power functions and alternatives.
  
  Cox, N. (n.d.). Careful and critical fitting of power functions and alternatives. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms. Advance online publication.
• Smoothing in various directions.
  
  Cox, N. (n.d.). Smoothing in various directions. The Stata Journal, 574-593.