Chapter 1 Introduction

In this chapter, you will learn:

• How to install and navigate R and RStudio, and
• The basics of the R programming language.

R is a statistical programming language that in many ways has become the language of statisticians. It not only has existing functions and packages for computing descriptive statistics, creating graphics, and running standard statistical analyses, but there are packages created every day to carry out just about any new statistical method out there. As a programming language it enables you to customize and create and do just about anything that a statistical analysis requires. Also, it is free and open-source, which means that there is a large community of users out there constantly updating existing packages and creating new ones.

You will come to see not only how efficient R is for producing results, but also how it allows you to easily access those results to create customized output you can present within R or export to the word processing program of choice.

Whether you are a current or aspiring biostatistician, epidemiologist, or other public health professional, gaining expertise in R will give you tools that you can take with you (and add to) for the rest of your career. If you have never programmed before, don’t worry. Imitate examples, ask questions, search online for answers and resources, and before you know it you will be an R expert!

Resist the temptation to jump ahead to learning how to use R to run various statistical procedures. First learn the basics of R programming. It will be worth it!