Date:         Wed, 2 Jul 2008 11:35:11 -0400
Reply-To:     Peter Flom <peterflomconsulting@mindspring.com>
Sender:       "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         Peter Flom <peterflomconsulting@MINDSPRING.COM>
Subject:      Making you think (was Re: A powerpoint slide show comparing R
              with SAS and SPSS_
Comments: To: jfh@stanfordalumni.org
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

Jack Hamilton <jfh@STANFORDALUMNI.ORG> wrote
>I'm not sure that "Forces you to *think* about your analysis" is
>actually an advantage for most people.
>

heheh

The main problem with R is not that it forces you to think, but that it doesn't always inform you when your thinking is totally off.

This is also the case with SAS and SPSS, however.

Why is it that people simultaneously think that a) statistics is hard and b) think anyone can do it?

It's weird.  I mean, if I had one or two courses in anatomy, I wouldn't think myself qualified to be a surgeon.
Yet, people who have had one or two courses in statistics often think they can do their own statistics.

Peter



Peter L. Flom, PhD
Statistical Consultant
www DOT peterflom DOT com