In SAS, which statement is typically used to calculate a new variable?

The DATA statement is fundamental in SAS for creating and modifying data sets, which includes calculating new variables. When you use the DATA statement, you are essentially defining a new data set or modifying an existing one. This is where you can apply various operations to create new variables based on existing ones.

For example, within a DATA step, you can specify the logic for calculating a new variable using arithmetic operations or functions. This allows you to store the results of your calculations directly into the data set you are working with. The incorporation of assignments within the DATA statement facilitates not just the addition of new variables but also the manipulation of existing data attributes.

While IF statements can filter data or conditionally create new variables, they are typically part of a wider context within a DATA step. PROC statements, on the other hand, are used for analyzing data, summarizing, or reporting rather than modifying the structure of data sets. The SET statement is primarily used to read an existing data set into the DATA step; it does not itself create new variables but can be part of the process when combined with a DATA statement.

The DATA statement, therefore, is the correct choice for the context of calculating new variables within SAS.