Reader Comments

Post a new comment on this article

Need to motivate the topic, why R?

Posted by djstates on 01 Feb 2011 at 08:05 GMT

This paper mentions a few issues in using R, but fails to really motivate why a student should learn R. Worth discussing R vs. Excel and the problems of using Excel as a scientific data analysis tool (the many values of an empty cell, unreliable behavior as a result of autocorrection, y2k features, etc.). Also need to highlight the power of R in exploratory data analysis, scientific graphics and extensibility, e.g. BioConductor.

No competing interests declared.