>From: Peter Dalgaard <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: Re: [R] A comment about R: > >One thing that is often overlooked, and hasn't yet been mentioned in >the thread, is how much *simpler* R can be for certain completely >basic tasks of practical or pedagogical relevance: Calculate a simple >derived statistic, confidence intervals from estimate and SE, >percentage points of the binomial distribution - using dbinom or from >the formula, take the sum of each of 10 random samples from a set of >numbers, etc. This is where other packages get stuck in the >procedure+dataset mindset. >
Colleagues I really agree with Peter's comment. Matlab is much the same, in this sense. I've had a lot of trouble getting people at my lab to take on learning R. It is interesting to me that the one person who has taken the plunge was educated in Singapore. I read recently that on measures of science performance, Singapore schools do very well. Perhaps students now expect science to be easier. I have found also that it makes it much clearer for people to decide if they need to learn R to be clear that it is like learning a language. You start with a few packaged functions (e.g. mean), and move on from there. You have to take a structured approach to learning it, and need to use it very frequently. You have to learn the syntax, and just like learning Spanish, don't expect to read Vargas Llosa before you can say buenas tardes correctly. Once they understand that, they can decide if they need R, before they decide whether to invest in learning it. Suerte Good luck! Sam ---- Sam McClatchie, Oceanography subprogram South Australian Aquatic Sciences Centre PO Box 120, Henley Beach 5022 Adelaide, South Australia email <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cellular: 0431 304 497 Telephone: (61-8) 8207 5448 FAX: (61-8) 8207 5481 Research home page <http://www.members.iinet.net.au/~s.mcclatchie/> /\ ...>><xX(°> //// \\\\ <°)Xx><< ///// \\\\\\ ><(((°> >><(((°> ...>><xX(°>O<°)Xx><< ______________________________________________ R-help@stat.math.ethz.ch mailing list https://stat.ethz.ch/mailman/listinfo/r-help PLEASE do read the posting guide! http://www.R-project.org/posting-guide.html