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GenStat for Teaching - pioneering data analysis software now free for educators and students world-wide

Students to benefit from software that reflects and reinforces the fundamental principles of statistics. VSNi, the data analysis software developer announce that a freely downloadable version of its pioneering data analysis software GenStat is now available for teaching institutions world-wide. Called GenStat for Teaching, the free software will be offered to all educators and students in courses where data analysis is required including the social sciences, biosciences, economics, market research and mathematics.

GenStat has long been the tool of choice for researchers and scientists, particularly in the bioscience and statistical computing sectors, because of its unique reputation for ‘promoting good statistical practice’. With the release of GenStat for Teaching, students will benefit from using a software package that reflects and reinforces the fundamental principles of statistics.

This announcement marks a significant step in VSNi’s on-going commitment to supporting the next generation of scientists across the world. “We believe that we have a social and moral responsibility to assist where we can. It’s vital that educators and students have free access to the best tools for the job. GenStat is ideal for teaching not just because it is quick and easy to learn but because its unique strength lies in the fact that it offers users the security of knowing that the results from GenStat analysis are founded on sound statistical principles,” says Stewart Andrews, VSNi CEO.

Roger Payne, Chief Technical Officer, VSNi explains: “One of the guiding principles behind GenStat’s development from its conception has always been careful consideration for scientific validity. When GenStat was first developed in the 1960s it was considered, by most accounts, to be the first statistical package. Today GenStat’s intelligent menu system and comprehensive suite of diagnostic messages work together to guide users to the most correct and appropriate analyses for any data. Choosing the correct statistical method for analysing a set of data can be daunting, not least because wrong choices at this stage are likely to produce invalid results and unwarranted conclusions. This is where GenStat can offer unrivalled levels of support. GenStat’s menus have a consistent ‘analyse - check assumptions - save details’ approach, which ensures users think logically and interactively about data analysis.”

Moral commitment

“By offering GenStat for Teaching free to educators and students world-wide, we are simply strengthening our commitment to offering those that need it a fair and equal chance to access the best in data analysis systems. Lack of resources should not hamper those in need,” says Stewart Andrews. In 2003, VSNi released GenStat Discovery, a free version of GenStat for use by educational and not-for-profit research organizations based in the developing world. Today Discovery has thousands of users in 85 countries.

Easy to learn

GenStat is a complete statistics system offering a full range of methods and functionality included as standard. As well as being one of the most respected data analysis software packages available, GenStat is also one of the easiest to learn. One of its key strengths is that students (and lecturers) do not need to be statistically trained to use it. As GenStat is designed with a user-friendly Windows graphical interface, complete novice users can confidently install and start to use the package by simply following familiar Windows instructions, functions and tools. On-line support is also available with GenStat to guide new users through the key aspects of the package. This approach ensures students can be introduced quickly and easily to statistical analysis without getting bogged down in code, so lecturers can enjoy welcome relief from the routine barrage of student queries about using statistical software for the first time. Dr Brigid McDermott, lecturer in Biometrics, Nairobi University comments “A menu-driven package like GenStat is much easier to teach with as it lets the students focus on the statistics and not the syntax.”

Step-by-step coordinated approach

GenStat’s intuitive and well-planned menu system also provides users with a step-by-step, coordinated approach to analysis. This ensures that users can quickly grasp the basic principles and techniques such as linear regression that are typically encountered in undergraduate-level statistics-related courses. For experienced programmers who require sophisticated analysis programmes, GenStat offers total flexibility through a powerful command language interface facilitating more advanced usage and enabling users to develop their own statistical techniques. This is particularly useful as it avoids the need for students to move to other packages as their knowledge progresses.

Structured learning

GenStat can also be tailored around teaching sessions. Its Save Session facility means users can take a snapshot of their GenStat session at any time and restart it at a later date to fit in with their learning path. The Save Session records all the available data in the software at any given point, all open menus and their associated settings, all open spreadsheets and all open GenStat command programmes. This is particularly useful for students as it means there is no need to start the analysis from the beginning each time, nor are they overwhelmed by the sometimes daunting array of terminology, procedures, tests and analyses.

Download a free copy of GenStat for Teaching.

For more information on GenStat or VSNi contact Liz Jupe at VSNi.

For further information on GenStat or to arrange an interview with Stewart Andrews, CEO of VSNi or Roger Payne, Chief Technical Officer of VSNi, please contact Marie-Louise Morley at Apposite Communications or on: 0781 392 7918.