Using R-project for free statistical analysis in extension research

One option for Extension professionals wishing to use free statistical software is to use online calculators, which are useful for common, simple analyses. A second option is to use a free computing environment capable of performing statistical analyses, like R-project. R-project is free, cross-platform, powerful, and respected, but may be difficult for beginners to learn. Using a graphical user interface allows new users to perform common analyses using pull-down menus and dialog boxes without programming knowledge. An example of an R-project program, performing a linear regression and producing relevant plots and statistics, is included.