I started to learn it a few years ago (2010ish I think) but for the straightforward stuff that I've been doing, SPSS is adequate. Never have the time to put into really learning it.
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R
- Thread starter Ziltoid
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I think this book is very good, although it's a bit pricey. Maybe start with the free online guides, and then see if there's a book that adresses the specific topic you'll be using it for.
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Maybe if you'd resisted the temptation to be deliberately vague with your thread title and first post as a kinda sad effort to seek attention it might have worked out better?This is what I get for starting a "serious" thread for once
Heh heh.
The Statistics faculty in distance graduate courses use it. We media folks make the sign of the cross at it and slowly back away. Too many numbers.
I tried to click on the link, the TB app went to quote. I figured it was easier to just go with the flow.
Which do you want to learn "SPSS" or "R"? SPSS is pretty cheap and if it's an industry standard I'd go with that one.
I already know spss decently well. I want to learn R, part of the reason is that it's used in some Quant summer school I'll eventually attend and most "serious" poltical science dep. specializing in quant. use it. Also, it seems to be worth it just for the graphs.
I suggest biting the bullet and learning how to program. Which language you learn first isn't as important as developing the skills. Most programming concepts are the same across different languages. This tutorial looks promising.
http://www.cyclismo.org/tutorial/R/
Some other ideas: Audit an intro programming course at your uni. Find an online course. Find a mentor who's a R guru. Find a web forum for R users, and look for simple code examples that you can follow by comparing the names of the instructions to their descriptions in the manual.
While you've got access to SPSS, give yourself little tasks where you try to produce identical results in SPSS and R.
If you're doing things like mining text files for data, another language worth considering is Python.
http://www.cyclismo.org/tutorial/R/
Some other ideas: Audit an intro programming course at your uni. Find an online course. Find a mentor who's a R guru. Find a web forum for R users, and look for simple code examples that you can follow by comparing the names of the instructions to their descriptions in the manual.
While you've got access to SPSS, give yourself little tasks where you try to produce identical results in SPSS and R.
If you're doing things like mining text files for data, another language worth considering is Python.
Yes, it's one of those indicators that you know your stuff for sure. of course it's worth it, it's free.
Kidding...I know what you mean.I have too many things going on right now to take the time to learn it though. Maybe I should play around with it for easy stuff and then really get solid on it during my sabbatical.
Yes, it's one of those indicators that you know your stuff for sure. of course it's worth it, it's free.
I have too many things going on right now to take the time to learn it though. Maybe I should play around with it for easy stuff and then really get solid on it during my sabbatical.
Yeah, I'll try to dabble a bit in it but I don't have much time. I have 4 graduate level classes right now as well as a RA position, it's crazy.
If you're familiar with stats and writing SPSS scripts, then a good starting point is to Google whatever operation you want to do. Once you are comfortable with the interface and basic software, there are a ton of great resources on the web.
Blow 'em off.
Another idea is to take some simple computations that you already know how to do in SPSS, and see if you can get the same answer using R.
