Lane Medical Library

Using R for Statistics and Graphics:An Introduction for Busy Non-programmers

Video Available  *SUNetID required  

R is a free software package that calculates statistics and generates publication quality graphics. It has a difficult learning curve if you do not have the correct tools. This class will teach the essentials of R to people who have little time to learn and especially those busy people who have no computer programming experience. People who attend will learn how to set up and use R to generate descriptive statistics, as well as common graphics and statistical tests like t-tests on means and χ2 tests on frequency counts. Attendees should be comfortable working with either Windows or Mac OS X and ideally be familiar with Microsoft Excel. This is both a lecture and hands on lab so students should ideally have a laptop.

After completing the class attendees will know how to:

• recognize files that R can easily understand
• make readable Excel files
• use Excel to get data ready for analysis
• add a point-and-click system to R
• load data into R with a point-and-click system or with code
• do descriptive statistics and graphics with code generated from a point-and-click system
• write an R program
• find additional help

Attendees will also understand:

• common objects that R uses
• what a R function is
• what function arguments do

About the Instructor:

Ray Balise PhD, Stanford Health Research and Policy
Please if you have questions about course content, etc.

Prequisites:

Students must have completed the instructions installing R on a Windows Machine or a Mac before taking this class.