Discovering Statistics Using R
- Andy Field - University of Sussex, UK
- Jeremy Miles - RAND Corporation, USA
- Zoë Field - University of Sussex, UK
Keeping the uniquely humorous and self-deprecating style that has made students across the world fall in love with Andy Field's books, Discovering Statistics Using R takes students on a journey of statistical discovery using R, a free, flexible and dynamically changing software tool for data analysis that is becoming increasingly popular across the social and behavioural sciences throughout the world.
The journey begins by explaining basic statistical and research concepts before a guided tour of the R software environment. Next you discover the importance of exploring and graphing data, before moving onto statistical tests that are the foundations of the rest of the book (for example correlation and regression). You will then stride confidently into intermediate level analyses such as ANOVA, before ending your journey with advanced techniques such as MANOVA and multilevel models. Although there is enough theory to help you gain the necessary conceptual understanding of what you're doing, the emphasis is on applying what you learn to playful and real-world examples that should make the experience more fun than you might expect.
Like its sister textbooks, Discovering Statistics Using R is written in an irreverent style and follows the same ground-breaking structure and pedagogical approach. The core material is augmented by a cast of characters to help the reader on their way, together with hundreds of examples, self-assessment tests to consolidate knowledge, and additional website material for those wanting to learn more.
Given this book's accessibility, fun spirit, and use of bizarre real-world research it should be essential for anyone wanting to learn about statistics using the freely-available R software.
Supplements
I used the book for a class on socialization research. For most of my students it was the first time that they used R for their statistical analyses. "Discovering Statistics Using R" washed away any fears of formula and generated appetite for discovering all the great possibilities that R offers to students of social phenomena.
I will recommend this book to my students who need R or want to use R rather than SPSS - it's as phantastic as the SPSS version in my eyes!
Very good book!
Since I saw the previous edition of this book (SPSS-based) I was hoping and then waiting for the R-based version. And finally it's here having all the great qualities of the previous version.
What I noticed previously is that the kind of narrative presented in these books is very positively received by the students making them read beyond the required chapters only. It's definitely the first book that we will recommend our students to refer in case of R-based data-analysis assignments.
I think this text is going to make R very much more accessible than before for students. I will publicise it in the MSc student sessions of my course and to MSc dissertation students, and ensure that my colleagues who run the R courses for postgrads are aware of it. I'm indicating the book as supplemental for my own course as this course does not involve any hands-on stats.
I won't be recommending this book to undergraduates at present as they are taught stats entirely via SPSS, but this might change when methodology teaching is reviewed at some time in the future; the existence of this student-friendly text certainly makes this much more of a possibility than previously.
I am still reading the book, but I can see I will most definetely adapt it as an essential course. I have never laugh so much reading a stats course. As one of my students said of the SPSS version, "there cannot possibly be anything wrong with a book that quotes Radiohead". I don't feel I am yet ready for providing a full assessment, but there are many things that I like about the book. There is simply no better alternative in the market for introducing fearful social science students into the intimidating environment of R.
"Discovering statistics using R" is in my opinion as much a success as it's pendant for SPSS. This book is as well a wonderful instructions for beginners in R (introduciton to workspace, loading data, cran, handling of packages etc.) as a guide for advanced learners. I have read other R-introductions, which could not explain R's essentials as simple as this book does.
Great is the application to the R commander, which is for R-beginners (with SPSS experience) a real help.
On the downside I was disappointed that the additional software RStudio was not recommended, as it improves (in my opinion) the handling of R immensely.
The explanation of statistical procedures are as in it's SPSS pendant very illustrative and it really invites to explore statistics, as a student of my course wrote on a feedback form (this time with R).
A definite bonus is the application of robust methods (which is not given in it's SPSS pendandt), which is a real advantage for more advanced students and researchers.
Eventhough I have the book for 2-3 weeks, I am confident to find more upsides than downsides in this book while using it in my lectures and for my research.
In short, the book is outstanding: Based on an unique overall funny undertone, the book serves very well as an introduction to R and to the world of statistics in general.
Whilst the book is well written, readers unfamiliar with R will struggle quite a bit. I'd recommend using it in conjunction with introductory R books, but not on its own.
This is an excellent book and the integration of R into the 'Discovering Statistics' series is a long-awaited move. I have already recommended this book to a number of colleagues and will continue to recommend it to MA/PhD students in the future.
The only downside of this edition is that the book isn't as visually appealing as the SPSS version (there's less colour), but in no way does this detract from the overall quality of the content.
Overall, this book is up-to-date, accessible, and comprehensive. An ideal introductory statistics textbook that also serves as an accessible introduction to a powerful and rapidly-growing software package.
