Software

Students can use whatever software they wish to, as long as they can use it to produce acceptable answers. But unless you really want to forge ahead on your own and use something different, I recommend that you use Minitab.

In the class notes and handouts, I supply Minitab instructions for the mainframe version of Minitab. Although some may think that this is a rather old-fashioned way to do the computing, others find it attractive because it is cheap and because it's easy to make sure that you're doing everything correctly, because in the course notes and handouts I can supply you with all of the necessary commands in a format that makes it hard to go astray. (I find it more awkward to give written instructions on using the Windows version of Minitab, with it's various menus and buttons.) If you're in the M.S. of Statistical Science program, then you'll use other software in your other applied courses, and so rather than buy the Windows version on Minitab you might want to just use mainframe Minitab on the mason/osf1 cluster. To activate your account on the mason/osf1 cluster, go here. Information about connecting to the mason/osf1 cluster from home or work using SSH can be found here. One thing that you do have to watch out for if you transfer Minitab .LIS files to your computer to print (as opposed to printing them at GMU) is to make sure they are saved as an ASCII text file before printing (or else the plots can get distorted). In the past, many students have edited their Minitab files to insert comments, and very nice assignments can be produced this way, but one just has to make sure that the plots don't get distorted when the files are printed. Another drawback to using the mainframe version of Minitab is that it's hard to find information in books about it. But my guess is that this is not a serious drawback at all, since I will supply you with information about using the mainframe version (and in the past many students have commented that they got along just fine with the information that I supplied and that there was no strong reason to buy any documentation about Minitab on the mainframe).

If coming to campus or dailing up and connecting to the mason cluster from home is too inconvenient, then you can buy the Windows version of Minitab and install it on your own computer. It is for sale in GMU's bookstore. If you buy the Minitab for Windows software from the GMU bookstore, then you will get documentation with it (and you may find little use for the Minitab Handbook, which is just documentation without the software (although if you find that the manual that comes in the shrinkwrap package with the software is insufficient, then perhaps the Minitab Handbook will be a worthwhile investment, since it may clear up your confusion)). But if you don't buy your own copy of Minitab, but instead use it on a computer where it has already been installed, you may want to obtain some sort of hardcopy documentation. Minitab's web site contains information about ordering documentation. It also contains answers to FAQs, and has information about renting Minitab for $29.99 (for one semester). Alternatively, the GMU bookstore should have some copies of Minitab Handbook, 5th Ed. by Ryan, Joiner, and Cryer. Earlier editions of this book contained information about using both Minitab on the mainframe and using the Windows version of Minitab, but the latest edition focuses on the Windows version. (If you plan to use the Windows version in the GMU computer labs, then this may be a good book for you to buy.) A disadvantage to using the Windows version of Minitab is that you'll have to figure more things out by yourself (which shouldn't be terribly difficult since undergraduates seem to use this version of Minitab without necessarily having a lot of difficulty). Most STAT 554 students who have used the Windows version seem to have had little difficulty, especially if they were used to using various software packages on a PC, but occassionally some students have trouble (especially in developing and using macros or execs (which allow users to program statistical methods that aren't included in Minitab)). If you lack experience in using Windows software, then maybe it'll be best to simply use Minitab on the mainframe for this one semester, since I can give you instructions on how to do what you need to do using the mainframe version of Minitab.

Still another option is to use the Windows version of Minitab in the GMU computer labs (which you can do for free as long as you are a student in good standing, although you will have to pay to print on GMU printers). Minitab is supposed to be installed on PCs in labs in Innovation Hall, and is perhaps also installed in the labs in the Johnson Center. Information about the labs, including hours of operation, may be found here. A disadvantage in doing the computer work this way may be not being able to easily find an available computer during busy periods (sometimes classes are taught in some of the labs, and other students can't use them), but if you are on campus quite a bit, or learn when good times to use the labs are, this may be the way you want to go.

If you decide to use Minitab to do the computer work for STAT 554, please carefully review the options (see above), and then make sure that you read the comments on this page before going to the GMU bookstore to buy materials for STAT 554.

Students who already know how to use R, S-Plus or SAS may wish to use one of those software packages, but if you do, you'll have to figure out a lot on your own. My guess is that if you know how to use R or S-Plus (including creating functions), then you can use it to do everything you need to do (but it still may be easier to use Minitab for this course since I can give you step-by-step instructions on how to do the necessary computing using Minitab on the mainframe). In the past, some SAS users have found it a bit difficult to get SAS to do everything that should be done. My guess is that SAS can indeed do everything for STAT 554, but it may take you longer to figure out how to get SAS to do everything than it would take another student to simply mimic my Minitab examples.

Software that is primarily designed for (nonstatistical) mathematics or simple spreadsheet work may be a poor choice as far as STAT 554 is concerned. One would have to do a lot more programming, or else run through tiresome steps again and again over the course of the semester (and in the process many students would have a tendency to make mistakes). In particular, I'll encourage you not to think of Excel as statistical software. In comparative studies by statisticians who specialize in statistical software, Excel is typically rated very low.