By "routines" I assume that you mean "underlying numerical algorithms."
Two part answer: 1) R has a lot more of them than SPSS, and more in most data analytical related areas than Matlab (but Matlab is the right tool for, say, differential equation solving). 2) A detailed answer to the question is highly technical, requiring a heavy numerical analysis background to discuss intelligently. Since most students (indeed, non-specialists like myself, included) will not have this background, the short answer is: "this is beyond the scope of your ability to understand." As a general comment, core R algorithms are probably among the best in the business (because R's core developers are a pretty outstanding bunch of folks and have done extensive testing); but beyond that, caveat emptor! Bert Gunter Genentech Nonclinical Statistics -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Frank Thomas Sent: Friday, October 26, 2007 8:54 AM To: r-help@r-project.org Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [R] R routines vs. MATLAB/SPSS Routines Some major differences between R and SPSS: 1/ The learning curve of R is steep and the one of SPSS is largely flat. A difference any student will rapidly understand. 2/ The user interface in R is underdeveloped, in comparison to SPSS. 3/ In R without loving to spend time in programming you get nothing. With SPSS your students will concentrate on content, not on technology. 4/ SPSS is so easy to use that the statistical conditions for using specific procedures get easily forgotten. R is more close to the programming side so no way to forget the foundations. 5/ The economic price of SPSS is really steep, you pay more than 30 years of development. R is free, but the real price for a student is his or her time to learn, which can also be steep. I think, how to evaluate the differences is in part a question of the mindset and the work environment of the future user. If your students are more mathematicians, program developers, engineers, science people, etc. and need to tweak a procedure to single case applications you will have an easy public with R. If they are more of economic, social sciences, service industry people, and routine applications or large data sets will be their job SPSS, SAS, SPAD are more adapted. But this may be ground for discussion. BTW: Contrary to some ideas both R & SPSS can be programmed and the algorithms for both have been published. So, no matter whether open source or private property you know what you do (if you want). Hope this helps, F. Thomas Matthew Dubins wrote: > Hi all, > > I've become quite enamored of R lately, and have decided to try to teach > some of its basics (reading in data, manipulation and classical stats > analyses) to my fellow grad students at the University of Toronto. I > sent out a mass email and have already received some positive > responses. One student, however, wanted to know what differentiates the > routines that R uses, from those that MATLAB and SPSS use. In other > words, in what respects do R routines work faster/more efficiently/more > accurately than those of MATLAB/SPSS. > > I thank you in advance for any answer you can give me (or rather, the > inquiring student). > > Cheers, > Matthew Dubins > > ______________________________________________ > R-help@r-project.org mailing list > https://stat.ethz.ch/mailman/listinfo/r-help > PLEASE do read the posting guide http://www.R-project.org/posting-guide.html > and provide commented, minimal, self-contained, reroducible code. > > > -- .......................................... Dr. Frank Thomas FTR Internet Research 93110 Rosny-sous-Bois France ______________________________________________ R-help@r-project.org mailing list https://stat.ethz.ch/mailman/listinfo/r-help PLEASE do read the posting guide http://www.R-project.org/posting-guide.html and provide commented, minimal, self-contained, reproducible code. ______________________________________________ R-help@r-project.org mailing list https://stat.ethz.ch/mailman/listinfo/r-help PLEASE do read the posting guide http://www.R-project.org/posting-guide.html and provide commented, minimal, self-contained, reproducible code.
