Key Points

The Case for Switching

  • R is free, open-source, and runs on any operating system
  • R scripts make your analysis fully reproducible
  • R can pull data from APIs, create interactive visualizations, and automate reports — things SPSS cannot do
  • Switching builds on your existing statistical knowledge, not replaces it

Your First R Session

  • RStudio is your workspace — it combines a script editor, console, and data viewer
  • haven::read_sav() imports SPSS files directly, preserving labels
  • summary(), table(), and str() replace the Descriptives and Frequencies menus in SPSS

Data Manipulation

  • dplyr verbs (filter, select, mutate, arrange, summarise) replace SPSS menu operations
  • The pipe operator |> chains operations together, making code readable
  • group_by() combined with summarise() replaces SPSS Split File + Aggregate

Visualization with ggplot2

  • ggplot2 builds plots in layers: data, aesthetics, geometry, labels, theme
  • Every SPSS Chart Builder chart has a ggplot2 equivalent that offers more control
  • Faceting (facet_wrap) lets you create small multiples — something SPSS Chart Builder handles poorly

Statistical Analysis in R

  • Every SPSS statistical test has a direct R equivalent, usually in a single function call
  • R output is more compact than SPSS — broom::tidy() converts it to a clean table
  • The workflow in R is: load data, run test, extract results, visualize — all in a script

Reproducible Reporting

  • R Markdown combines your analysis and write-up in a single document
  • When data changes, re-knitting updates every table and figure automatically
  • You can output to Word, PDF, or HTML from the same source file
  • This eliminates the copy-paste errors that are common with SPSS output

Where to Go from Here

  • R has a large, active community — you are never stuck alone
  • cbsodataR and WDI let you pull Dutch Caribbean data directly into R
  • Save your analyses as scripts and build a personal reference library
  • The DCDC Network is your regional peer community for continued learning