"This book fits right into a needed niche: rigorous enough to give full explanation of the power of the S language, yet accessible enough to assign to social science graduate students without fear of intimidation. It is a tremendous balance of applied statistical "firepower" and thoughtful explanation. It meets all of the important mechanical needs: each example is given in detail, code and data are freely available, and the nuances of models are given rather than just the bare essentials. It also meets some important theoretical needs: linear models, categorical data analysis, an introduction to applying GLMs, a discussion of model diagnostics, and useful instructions on writing customized functions. "
-JEFF GILL, University of Florida, Gainesville
Booknews
R and S-PLUS are statistical-computing environments, incorporating implementations of the S programming language. This text teaches the use of R and S-PLUS in the context of applied regression analysis, for students in social sciences in a second course in applied statistics. Focus is on the command-line interface to R and S-PLUS, rather than the graphical user interface. Coverage encompasses reading and manipulating data, fitting linear models, drawing graphs, and writing programs. It is assumed that the student is familiar with or concurrently learning statistical methods. Fox teaches sociology at McMaster University, Canada. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
