Comments on: Statistics, SPSS and R http://pastcounts.wordpress.com/2007/10/29/statistics-spss-and-r/ A blog about the complex relation between computers and history Fri, 27 Nov 2009 07:44:31 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Ralph http://pastcounts.wordpress.com/2007/10/29/statistics-spss-and-r/#comment-28 Ralph Thu, 24 Apr 2008 10:16:52 +0000 http://pastcounts.wordpress.com/2007/10/29/statistics-spss-and-r/#comment-28 Good to see that R can hold its own against some of the commercial software out there. The main reason that I moved from using S-plus to R was because at that time it hogged memory and would lock the machine causing a crash if you had the cheek to want to use another application at the same time. So much for multitasking! The R system is more flexible and powerful once you get over the initial learning curve and are happy to use a command line system. The main complaint is about memory as the data is stored in RAM rather than on disk, but sometimes you have to wonder what people are actually going to find in these large datasets and how many spurious relationships will get identified due to the sheer volume of tests. SAS and SPSS are probably better systems if processing large volumes of data for standard analysis but the graphics in these systems is nothing to write home about, in particular when compared to R. You have some interesting posts on your blog so keep it up. Best wishes Ralph Good to see that R can hold its own against some of the commercial software out there. The main reason that I moved from using S-plus to R was because at that time it hogged memory and would lock the machine causing a crash if you had the cheek to want to use another application at the same time. So much for multitasking!

The R system is more flexible and powerful once you get over the initial learning curve and are happy to use a command line system. The main complaint is about memory as the data is stored in RAM rather than on disk, but sometimes you have to wonder what people are actually going to find in these large datasets and how many spurious relationships will get identified due to the sheer volume of tests.

SAS and SPSS are probably better systems if processing large volumes of data for standard analysis but the graphics in these systems is nothing to write home about, in particular when compared to R.

You have some interesting posts on your blog so keep it up.

Best wishes
Ralph

]]> By: Ivan http://pastcounts.wordpress.com/2007/10/29/statistics-spss-and-r/#comment-2 Ivan Fri, 09 Nov 2007 13:05:52 +0000 http://pastcounts.wordpress.com/2007/10/29/statistics-spss-and-r/#comment-2 Google found your blog for me: I was looking for 'spss r blog'. I have a couple of quick points: 1. I find this post extremely reassuring. I am in the middle of automating some data processing, using spss and its python interface. Although the python interface is much better than using the GUI, the whole thing is pretty unpleasant (not because of the python, I love python). I've known about R for a long time but never really picked it up. In the last week or so it's never been far from my toughts. I don't think it would be a good idea to switch mid-project, but as soon as I've finished this job I'm going to do it all over again with R, just so I'm ready for next time. One problem might be that the client wants the result as an spss output file (*.spo). 2. Nice blog. Is it new? Keep it up! 2a. I notice you have an empty about page. 2b. You have Ken McLeod's blog on your blogroll! I love his books, especially the Fall Revolution and the Engines of Light series'. Best wishes Ivan Google found your blog for me: I was looking for ’spss r blog’. I have a couple of quick points:

1. I find this post extremely reassuring.

I am in the middle of automating some data processing, using spss and its python interface. Although the python interface is much better than using the GUI, the whole thing is pretty unpleasant (not because of the python, I love python).

I’ve known about R for a long time but never really picked it up. In the last week or so it’s never been far from my toughts. I don’t think it would be a good idea to switch mid-project, but as soon as I’ve finished this job I’m going to do it all over again with R, just so I’m ready for next time.

One problem might be that the client wants the result as an spss output file (*.spo).

2. Nice blog. Is it new? Keep it up!

2a. I notice you have an empty about page.

2b. You have Ken McLeod’s blog on your blogroll! I love his books, especially the Fall Revolution and the Engines of Light series’.

Best wishes

Ivan

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