First steps in data analysis with R

Ready to move beyond theory and master practical data analysis? This course is designed for individuals with a foundational understanding of statistical concepts who are eager to apply those principles to real-world data.

Analyzing data can feel overwhelming, especially when translating textbook knowledge into actionable insights using complex software. This course provides a structured approach to building a reliable data analysis pipeline, equipping you with the skills to confidently tackle data challenges throughout your career.

We'll focus on R, a powerful, free and open-source software environment widely used for data modeling, data handling, data analysis, and data visualization. We'll start with the basics, guiding you through the installation process and building a solid foundation in the R programming language.

You'll learn to:

• Get Started with R: Learn how to efficiently enter data into R and navigate the environment.
• Data Visualization: Create publication-quality graphs using both the built-in plot() function and the highly versatile ggplot2 package.
• Statistical Modeling: Fit, interpret, and evaluate a range of general linear models, including:
  • t-tests
  • ANOVA
  • Regression
  • ANCOVA
  • Multiple Regression
• Polynomial Regression: Explore fitting and interpreting polynomial regression models.
• Non-Linear Modeling: Get an introduction to user-defined non-linear models.
• Generalized Linear Models: Understand and apply generalized linear models for non-normally distributed data, with a practical case study using count data.
• Data Wrangling: Master optimal data organization and data wrangling techniques, including merging, subsetting, and summarizing data.

To facilitate your learning, all scripts used throughout the course will be provided, allowing you to easily replicate analyses and adapt them to your own research projects. We'll take a step-by-step approach, starting from absolute beginner level and building your skills progressively. This course empowers you to confidently analyze data and extract meaningful insights.