Developing introductory training in R

1. Developing introductory training in R Ria Sanderson, Duncan Elliott, ONS

2. Outline • Introduction to R • R at ONS • Motivation • Project to develop R training • Pilot courses • Course review • Lessons learned • Project summary • Next steps

3. Introduction to R • Open source software package for: • - Statistical analysis • - Programming • - Graphics • Many functions provided by add-on “packages” written by users • In use by other National Statistical Institutes (NSIs)

4. R at ONS • Group of methodologists and IT specialists established in 2011 to explore use of R • Carried out a series of pilot projects considering the use of R: • for methodology • in other National Statistics Institutes • as a disclosure tool • for processing administrative data • producing standard graphics

5. R at ONS • Concluded that R is a useful tool for research purposes • Used as a research tool for research in: • spatial analysis • small area estimation • time series analysis • sample design & estimation

6. Motivation • Previously carried out a series of internal training courses • Training very informal, evolved rather than developed • Information from GSS HoPs indicated R is in use for research and statistics • Self-taught or learnt through web resources

7. Motivation • Identified an opportunity to develop training: • For those departments interested in using R • For those departments already using R • In 2013, sought Quality Improvement Fund (QIF) funding to develop training in R for the GSS

8. Project Objectives • The project had two main objectives: • to provide the GSS with basic skills in R, building a platform from which GSS departments could individually assess whether R meets their statistical needs • to address the current gap in the provision of training in R that is tailored to GSS requirements • Focus of the training was on using R for analysis and graphics

9. Project Objectives • Expected benefits included: • wider use of open source software • greater collaboration across GSS • use of new methods & analysis tools

10. The Project • The project sought to develop two training courses: • Introduction to R • for those who have little or no experience in using R who want to learn how to use R for statistical analysis • Introduction to graphics using R • for those who have a basic knowledge of R and who want to learn how to produce graphs in R

11. Project Outcomes • The desired project outcomes were: • To develop the course material • To pilot each course by offering them to the GSS • To review the course material based on participant feedback • The project was carried out during the financial year 2013/14 • Pilot courses were held at ONS, Newport

12. Pilot courses • Expressions of interest were gathered via GSS HoPs and GSS website • Asked for additional information on: • Programming experience • Experience of using statistical software • Types of data and analysis routinely used • 34 expressions of interest received • Covered 14 departments, executive agencies and devolved administrations

13. Pilot courses • “Introduction to R” fully booked • 8 participants, 7 departments represented • More difficult to fill “Introduction to graphics using R” • Timing • Travel and subsistence costs • Coincided with severe winter storms • Offered to those with no prior experience in R (provided with additional material in advance) • 6 departments represented

14. Pilot courses • Courses designed to be interactive • Course slides contained descriptive material and R code • Participants could run the R code during the course • A series of exercises gave further hands-on experience of using R

15. Participant feedback • Group discussions • Feedback forms • Participants rated course as “good” or “excellent” • Participants “agreed” or “strongly agreed” that they would recommend the course to others • Level of difficulty and number of exercises deemed to be just right

16. Course review • Too much material in “Introduction to R” • Afternoon session was not completed in time • Some duplication identified • Amount of material reduced and duplication removed • Final session not completed in “Introduction to graphics using R” • Tutor led session contained too much material • Revised into “essentials” and “optional extras”

17. Lessons learned • Courses held in Newport due to availability of computer training facilities with R installed • Requirement to fund travel deterred some • Start times affected by travel disruption • In future, will re-consider location and start time based on participants • “Introduction to graphics” required some previous knowledge of R • In future, offer courses on consecutive days

18. Project summary • Project ran to time and on budget • Level of expressions of interest very encouraging • Two courses successfully developed and piloted • Courses will be offered to GSS • Unexpected benefits – sharing experiences of installing and managing the use of R

19. Next steps • Courses will be offered through Statistical Training Unit • Courses will run again in 2014 on consecutive days • Courses will be offered regularly from 2015

20. Quality Improvement Fund 14/15 • Round 2 is now open for bids • Closing date is midnight on 18th July • Any funds allocated must be spent in this financial year • For more detail and for bid templates, see the GSS website

21. Contacts • For more information on R training: statistical.training.enquiries@ons.gov.uk • For more information on the use of R at ONS: ria.sanderson@ons.gov.uk • For more information on R: www.r-project.org