[snip]
There is one statement pertaining to R on the above page that I might challenge:
"Unfortunately, it is a bit intimidating to use except by expert statisticians."
If I can use it, anybody can...
;-)
Regards,
Marc Schwartz
I think this perception is our biggest challenge in spreading R. Spreadsheets and
word processors also were thought to be intimidating. Indeed if we needed to
know all of what R does to use it, then anyone would be more than a bit
intimidated, I'm sure.
There are two counter-attacks that I see:
1) Make it clear that you can do useful work in R without knowing everything.
This can be facilitated by clear instructions on how to do some (subject-specific)
tasks. The clarity of the instructions can be called into question, but an
example of what I have in mind is:
http://www.burns-stat.com/pages/Techan/r_for_tac.html
2) Highlight what is central, and make that as simple and intuitive as possible.
I think the new division into a small "base" is a good step in that direction.
Patrick Burns
Burns Statistics [EMAIL PROTECTED] +44 (0)20 8525 0696 http://www.burns-stat.com (home of S Poetry and "A Guide for the Unwilling S User")
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