Introduction to R for Researchers

A hands-on introduction to the R programming language and statistical software platform designed for researchers in the social, behavioral, and medical sciences. Unlock a whole new world of possibilities by investing in your methodological skills!

Instructor:
Jeffrey Girard, PhD (University of Kansas)

Workshop Dates and Times:
Monday, June 9, 2025 at 9:30am-4:30pm EDT
Tuesday, June 10, 2025 at 9:30am-4:30pm EDT
(And 2024 Recording is Available Now)

Workshop Format:
Two-Day Online Workshop Recording

R is a popular software option for analyzing, wrangling, and visualizing data in the social, behavioral, and medical sciences. It is completely free, runs on all major platforms (i.e., Windows, Mac, and Linux), and offers a rich catalog of tools and techniques that are updated frequently. It is an excellent choice for a first programming language and provides all the computational tools that most applied researchers will ever need.

The main hurdle for many applied researchers learning R is that it is largely controlled using “syntax” (i.e., computer code) rather than point-and-click menus. This characteristic is actually one of R’s greatest strengths, but can be intimidating to many without a background in computing. This two-day workshop is designed to ease the transition into using R. It aims to provide a solid foundation of conceptual knowledge and applied skills that build the confidence, curiosity, and motivation that will be required to continue learning and using R after the workshop ends.

The workshop assumes that attendees have no prior knowledge of or experience with R. Please note that, although many researchers use R primarily to conduct statistical analyses, the focus of this workshop is on more fundamental data science skills (i.e., programming, data wrangling, and visualization). The knowledge gained in this workshop will be invaluable for other workshop offerings that focus on statistical analyses in R.

What you’ll learn

  • Software and Workflow

    Install R and RStudio, Command R via the Console and Scripts, Manage Files with RStudio Projects, and Create Shareable Lab Notebooks with the Quarto Publishing System

  • Basic Programming

    Create Objects in R, Understand R’s Naming Rules, Transform Data with Functions, Collect Data into Vectors, Store Text Data in Strings, and Extend R’s Abilities with Packages

  • Basic Data Wrangling

    Design Tidy Datasets for R, Store Tidy Data in Tibbles, Read and Write Data Files, Manipulate Row and Columns Using the {tidyverse} Package, and Write Efficient Coding Pipelines

  • Basic Data Visualization

    Learn the Grammar of Graphics, Create Scatterplots, Leverage Visual Aesthetics, Visualize Variation and Covariation, and Layer Plot Elements to Gain Insights

Registration Options

Introduction to R for Researchers

  • Professional
  • $499
  • Baseline Price for Faculty,
    Staff, and Other Professionals
  • Click Register Below
  • Trainee
  • $499 $334
  • 33% Discount for
    Students and Postdocs
  • Use code "TRAINEE" at Checkout

Combo 1: Introduction to R for Researchers + Intermediate R for Researchers

  • Professional
  • $1173 $938
  • Baseline Price for Faculty,
    Staff, and Other Professionals
  • 20% Combination Discount
  • Click Register Below
  • Trainee
  • $938 $629
  • 33% Discount for
    Students and Postdocs
  • 20% Combination Discount
  • Use code "TRAINEE" at Checkout

Note: All registration options for this workshop come with three things:
(1) Access to the video recording and materials of the 2024 version of the workshop until June 9, 2025
(2) The ability to attend the live recording of the 2025 version of the workshop on June 9-10, 2025
(3) Access to the video recording and materials of the 2025 version of the workshop after June 10, 2025

If this workshop is offered again in future years (e.g., 2026+), then you will have continued “evergreen” access to the new recordings and materials.

 FAQs

  • This workshop was custom built for researchers in the social, behavioral, and medical sciences who work with data but may not have received much (if any) formal education in programming or data science. It is designed to be much more accessible to such learners than many other trainings available online that target more technical fields (e.g., computer scientists). This workshop is introductory and appropriate for faculty, staff, and students at both the graduate and advanced undergraduate levels.

  • This workshop assumes that attendees have no prior knowledge of or experience with R or other programming languages. It does, however, assume that learners have basic computing skills such as the ability to download and manage (e.g., copy and paste) files, install and run software, and use a web browser to access workshop materials.

  • Registered learners will gain access to the Zoom link and passcode to attend the synchronous workshop, as well as video recordings of the lectures, downloadable slideshows, and example data files.