Getting started with R

Question

I have access to a database with a lot of credit data about individuals through my job and I'd like to use it to learn some R and eventually, come up with some models that predict credit worthiness using both the credit data and positive data from how these clients perform as our customers.

Can someone recommend a few things:

• Some tutorials and/or resources for getting started with R
• Good entry-level use cases for how I could use this credit data to learn R

Answer 1

Recently I asked for a set of links to start learning R. Glad to share it with you:

• very-very short intro http://stat.ethz.ch/education/semesters/ss2011/CompStat/R_Tutorial.pdf
• http://www.cyclismo.org/tutorial/R/
• http://math.illinoisstate.edu/dhkim/rstuff/rtutor.html
• and a very good book: http://math.illinoisstate.edu/dhkim/rstuff/rtutor.html

What I would suggest you to start with is...

• just simple playing with the data: plotting histograms, scatterplots, boxplots, etc.
• better understanding your data: density estimation, detecting outliers, etc.
• then maybe trying to explore the connection between the variables: regression, linear models, variable selection, non parametrical models, etc.
• testing different models: cross validation, bootstrap, confidence intervals
• and a lot more ideas limited only with your imagination...

Good luck!

Answer 2

Here are some more links

Computing for Data Analysis

This course is about learning the fundamental computing skills necessary for effective data analysis. You will learn to program in R and to use R for reading data, writing functions, making informative graphs, and applying modern statistical methods.

https://www.coursera.org/course/compdata

Fundamentals of Statistical Computing for Behavioral and Social Scientists & Introduction to R with Applications in Data Mining

http://people.virginia.edu/~js6ew/#Courses

And once you learn a lot R

useR! 2013, the R user conference

www3.uclm.es/congresos/useR-2013/