Chapter 18
Crunching Numbers: Performing Statistical Analysis on Your Computer
In This Chapter
Discovering the key statistical capabilities of some widely used software packages
Accessing Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) in Excel
Introducing the R programming language and the R Studio interface
Performing any type of statistical analysis usually requires the use of a specialized program. There are many available choices, ranging from the very basic to the extremely sophisticated. Some cost thousands of dollars — others you can download for free from the Internet.
This chapter introduces the statistical capabilities of three widely used such programs:
- Excel
- Visual Basic for Applications (VBA)
- The R programming language and interface
This chapter does assume some familiarity with coding in the Microsoft Office environment, particularly with VBA. If that environment is totally unfamiliar to you, you may want to bone up on some of the basics and then come back to this chapter. One good resource is Excel VBA Programming For Dummies by John Walkenbach (Wiley, 2013).
Excelling at Excel
Microsoft Excel is a hugely popular spreadsheet program that offers a wide range of capabilities. ...
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