Lazy Bayesian

There are many options when it comes to statistical computing, but R is freely available, powerful, robust, and always getting better. Most statistical software packages have exorbitant costs associated with obtaining personal or group licenses. But with R, you get an extremely powerful software package that is just as good, if not better, for no cost! This software is ever-improving and growing thanks to the many people who contribute to this project and make this all possible. This post is designed to be a first time exposure to R for those with no experience and want to start learning how to code. Whether you are a student in a stats course trying to learn or are trying to acquire a little R know-how in order to expand you business intelligence skills, this post is designed to help people get started. In this post, I will be giving you a basic knowledge of R skills so you can start doing simple analyses quickly. Specifically, I will be covering How to acquire R and Rstudio. Rs...

When analyzing data you often have to iterate through a set of values, or apply the same function to to that set. While R does not have a great reputation for iterative processes, the apply functions are a way around writing a slow for loop. Mastering the use of the apply functions will make your coding much more efficient and versatile. In this post, I will discuss the following: for loops. When and how to use them. I'll also briefly mention while loops. How to use apply . I will address  tapply ,  lapply , and  sapply in a subsequent post. To help demonstrate how the apply function can be used instead of a for loop, I will carry out the same task using both methods. Before I do that, I am going to go over some looping basics for those who may be unfamiliar or may need a review. For Loop Basics A for loop iterates through the elements of a vector (a set of values), where at each iteration will be represented by the object provided in the for statement. ...

While the majority of my posts are about analyses of one kind or another, I occasionally come across a new way of thinking or some new endeavor that I feel represents worthwhile knowledge in its own right. One topic that has fascinated me for some time is the idea of cryptocurrency and the proliferation of alt-coins (crypto that isn't Bitcoin). One day while I was looking around to see what kind of crypto was out there and what may be worth a look, and I stumbled upon a digital currency call BAT (Basic Attention Token). What does a cryptocurrency have to do with a new way that people interact with online marketing, you ask? Well, this crypto is a digital token that is used as the means of rewarding people for their attention, or in other words, viewing an ad. This idea alone turns our typical experience with online advertising on its head. Let's describe the typical paradigm of online ads and then compare that to this new way of doing things. The typical online ad parad...