Librarian for Geospatial Systems and Data
Resources for R
R is a free, open-source programming language designed for data analysis, statistics, and visualization. It is widely used in biology, bioinformatics, and many other disciplines. In this course, we’ll use R to apply statistical concepts directly to examples of real-world biological datasets, reinforcing your understanding through hands-on practice.
Getting Started with R
Step 1: Install R and RStudio
To begin, you’ll need two things:
-
R (the language itself): Download R from CRAN
-
RStudio (the interface we’ll use): Download RStudio Desktop
Note: Install R first, then RStudio.
Installation guide: https://rstudio-education.github.io/hopr/starting.html
Step 2: Familiarize Yourself with the RStudio Interface
RStudio is a powerful interface that makes working in R much easier. It consists of four main panes:
-
Script Editor: Where you write and save your R code
-
Console: Where your code runs
-
Environment/History: Lists your variables and recent commands
-
Plots/Packages/Files/Help: Manage plots, install packages, access help
Beginner-Friendly Learning Resources
-
R for Data Science: free online book for getting data into R as well as cleaning, wrangling and transforming it
-
A primer in biological data analysis and visualization using R: Access online book through Vanderbilt's Library catalog
-
Postit Recipes: R code snippets
-
R Reference Card: R cheat sheet that summarizes key functions, syntax, and common operations
Getting Help with R
-
Stack Overflow: Global Q&A forum for programmers. You can search your error messages and questions. There is a very high chance that someone has had the same issue/question before!
-
Amplify: Vanderbilt's custom generative AI software
-
Ask a human: Your instructors, librarians on campus, and class mates are here for support! Don't hesitate to ask a classroom neighbor or another person for help!
