Hello Guys,

I've checked out, although only brief and superficial, R commander.
The interface provides most of the typical tests used in
undergraduate training. Thus, it could be used to ease novices into
working with R.
Check out:
http://socserv.mcmaster.ca/jfox/Misc/Rcmdr/

It is also possible to extend the basic functionality and write add-
on menus for new routines. Could be usefull if you tend to use the
same routines again and again in your team and you have somebody
knowing how to programm in R and Tcl/Tk. This way, simply add a new
menu entry, and everybody can make happy mice clicking (at least in
principle). Thus, providing similiar out-of-the-box functionality
just like Will does through his Excel sheets.
Therefore check it out.

Cheers
Rob

>
> I agree with Rob that the menu-driven approach is limited to
simple
> analyses. But this is going to be adequate for many studies.
>
> I also have become more aware of all the grave statistical mistakes
I
> have made in the past. If you don't have the time to learn how to
> program (in at least one of the software packages) for the more
> complicated analyses (and maybe even for the simple ones), then
you
> probably don't have the time to learn all the nuances and things
to
> avoid doing that everyone is else is doing but doing them wrong. I
> have had some wonderful collaborations with statisticians and if
you
> can find one that is interested in your research question, use him/
her
> - it is also a great way to get free private tutoring.
>
> Here is a little saying that maybe is a bit harsh and over the
top,
> but it does make a point that we have to be very careful:
> _______
> "A mistake in the operating room can threaten the life of one
patient;
> a mistake in statistical analysis or interpretation can lead to
> hundreds of early deaths. So it is perhaps odd that, while we allow
a
> doctor to conduct surgery only after years of training, we give
SPSS
> to almost anyone"
>
> Vickers A. Interpreting data from randomized trials: the
Scandinavian
> prostatectomy study illustrates two common errors. Nat Clin Pract
Urol
> 2005;2(9):404-5.
> ________
>
> Ian Shrier MD, PhD, Dip Sport Med, FACSM
> Associate Professor, Dep't of Fam Med, McGill University
> Past-President, Canadian Academy of Sport Medicine
> Check out: www.casm-acms.org
> SKYPE name: ian.shrier
>
> Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Community Studies
> SMBD-Jewish General Hospital
> 3755 Cote Ste-Catherine Rd
> Montreal, Qc H3T 1E2
> Tel: 514-340-7563
> Fax: 514-340-7564
>
>
>
>
>
> On 9-Jan-09, at 5:53 PM, gerrobrein wrote:
>
> > Hi Will,
> >
> > Great to see some action happening on this list.
> > Personally, I don't think that providing a menu-driven interface
is
> > of any help. We discussed it a while ago when you came down to
> > Dunedin. I really am convinced that tables and mice don't do the
> > trick. Also, I'm 100% percent sure that an undergrad not being
> > polluted by Excel, SPSS or the like (try SPSS's scripting
language if
> > you want to see strange concepts by the way) will learn R in no
time.
> > Getting used to the commands may seem complicated at first but
once
> > you deal with real data, which tends to be really messy, it will
be
> > difficult to find the right menu anyway, because typically it
doesn't
> > exist yet.
> > Further, as the amount of data in our area is also constantly on
the
> > rise: From my own experience, for my master and my PhD I analyzed
> > whole body joint kinematics:
> > Master: ~216000 Data pts
> > PhD: ~157500000 Data pts
> > Today, there is just no escape from getting profficient in at
least
> > one programming language. Might as well be R.
> > Anyway, I'll try the R commander over the weekend and give some
> > feedback.
> >
> > Cheers
> > Rob
> >
> > --- In sportsci_rtutorial@yahoogroups.com, "Will Hopkins" <will@>
> > wrote:
> >>
> >> I presume folks won't mind if this interaction continues via the
> > list.
> >> Others might make some useful comments.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> I hadn't realized a menu-driven R was up and running. If that's
> > what the
> >> NYT article was referring to, it would imply that menu-driven R
is
> > easier to
> >> use than all the other menu-driven stats packages. Is R's menu
> > interface any
> >> different from any other? Does the interface somehow capture R's
> > strange
> >> concepts/jargon for specifying data and models (which I still
> > haven't
> >> attempted to understand, I must admit)?
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Will
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> From: sportsci_rtutorial@yahoogroups.com
> >> [mailto:sportsci_rtutorial@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Ian
Shrier
> >> Sent: Friday, 9 January 2009 11:17 a.m.
> >> To: sportsci_rtutorial@yahoogroups.com
> >> Subject: Re: [sportsci_rtutorial] R article at the new york times
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Will
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Within R, there is a feature called R Commander. Once loaded, it
is
> >> menu-driven. Further, as it runs, it writes the code so you learn
> > how to
> >> program as you go along.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Unfortunately, I only learned about it after I went through the
> > steepest
> >> part of the learning curve. And although I probably should use it
> > sometimes,
> >> I tend to rely on the help documentation or my statistician
friend
> > who is an
> >> R grand master...very helpful if you have one.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Ian Shrier MD, PhD, Dip Sport Med, FACSM
> >> Associate Professor, Dep't of Fam Med, McGill University
> >>
> >> Past-President, Canadian Academy of Sport Medicine
> >>
> >> Check out: www.casm-acms.org
> >> SKYPE name: ian.shrier
> >>
> >> Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Community Studies
> >> SMBD-Jewish General Hospital
> >> 3755 Cote Ste-Catherine Rd
> >> Montreal, Qc H3T 1E2
> >> Tel: 514-340-7563
> >> Fax: 514-340-7564
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> On 8-Jan-09, at 4:05 PM, Will Hopkins wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> "But R has also quickly found a following because statisticians,
> > engineers
> >> and scientists without computer programming skills find it easy
to
> > use."
> >>
> >> This is an example of why I don't read newspapers on or off line.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Will
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> From: sportsci_rtutorial@yahoogroups.com
> >> [mailto:sportsci_rtutorial@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of
gerrobrein
> >> Sent: Friday, 9 January 2009 1:29 a.m.
> >> To: sportsci_rtutorial@yahoogroups.com
> >> Subject: [sportsci_rtutorial] R article at the new york times
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/07/technology/business-
> >> computing/07program.html?_r=2
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------------
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
>