The R Book

The R language is recognized as one of the most powerful and flexible statistical software packages, and it enables the user to apply many statistical techniques that would be impossible without such software to help implement such large data sets. R is becoming essential both to carry out research and to understand it, as more and more people present their results in the context of R. This edition introduces the advantages of the R environment, in a user-friendly format, to beginners and intermediate users in a range of disciplines, from science and engineering to medicine and economics. The format enables it to be either read as a text, or dipped-into as a reference manual. The early chapters assume no background in statistics or computing, and introduce the reader to the basic concepts involved. In this way the reader is introduced to the assumptions that lie behind the tests, fostering a critical approach to statistical modeling. These early chapters have been thoroughly updated to take account of the way language has evolved since the publication of the first edition. Subsequent chapters examine more advanced topics, cementing what is learnt in the opening chapters, as well as benefiting more intermediate readers. Throughout the book, the reader's experience is furthered by practical guidance and the inclusion of numerous worked examples.