Owen Petchey
Owen is Professor of Integrative Ecology in the Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies. His research focuses on the ecological consequences of environmental change and species extinctions.
Introduction to R
UZH-MNF
About This Course
Many of the problems and questions we face can be addressed with quantitative data. For example, how fast and to where a disease will spread can be addressed by analysing quantitative data. Increasing amounts of data and easier access to it are likely to increase the important of quantitative methods for answering questions and solving problems.
This course aims to introduce you using R to solve problems with quantitative methods. It is a course more about R than it is about statistics. It aims to give you an efficient, reliable, consistent, and shareable method for problem solving in R.
If you've already taken courses that introduce data analysis with R / RStudio, you may find this course somewhat redundant. E.g. if you have already taken BIO 144 Data Analysis in Biology.
About Your Course
This online course is used to run several modules (e.g., BIO377, STA260, ECO332). Please consult the VVZ for information specific to your course. LOOK THERE FOR YOU COURSE DATES; IGNORE THE DATES IN THE PANEL ON THE RIGHT!
Prerequisites
You don't need to have touched R ever before.
Your specific module may cover some statistics (find out in the course specific information), in which case it's best if you've already taken a basic statistics course, so you recognise the names of methods like regression, t-tests, and ANOVA. If your course does cover some statistics, they will likely be reviewed, however, so don't worry if you're not confident about them. But it will be well worth reviewing material from your basic statistics course(s) before this course starts.
Preparation for the course
Check the module specific information. You may need to bring a laptop with University internet access to any in-person classes.
Scope of your course
The course will introduce you to R, and get you comfortable and confident doing the basics (e.g., data import, basic plotting, basic linear models). Check your course specific information for more details.
Schedule
The course will be a mixture of you using the online material, you practicing with exercises, and "in-person" sessions during which we review the online material and exercises.
Assessment
Please check your module specific information.
Course Staff
Torsten Hothorn
Torsten is Professor of Biostatistics at the Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute. His research focuses on the development, implementation and application of novel statistical methods in medicine and biology.
Reinhard Furrer
Reinhard is Professor of Applied Statistics at the Institut of Mathematics. His research interests are spatial and spatio-temporal statistics, non stationary spatial processes, statistical evaluation of climate model output... Reinhard is interested in the modeling of large spatial datasets using sparse covariances and enjoys interdisciplinary, collaborative projects.
Jan Seibert
Jan is Professor of Hydrology at the Geography Department. His research interests are hydrological modelling and experimental studies. Important current research areas include climate impact studies, uncertainty quantification and topographic controls of hydrological processes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to buy a textbook?
No. The course contains a lesson about how to get (for free) whatever information you need.
How long will this course take?
Please see information below specific to your course.