Beyond Familiarity and Tradition: Software Choice in Psychology Statistics Courses Has Long-Term Implications for Research Skills and Open Science Practices

Le résumé fourni par la source

Background Software choice in psychology statistics courses remains debated. The long-term impact of software choice on researchers’ own use is unknown. Objective We sought to identify which statistical software researchers commonly used and the reasons for its use, with a particular focus on the extent to which use was related to what participants were formally taught. Method Psychology researchers from Canada and the United States ( N =311) filled out an online survey asking about their statistical software use, preferences, and reasons for use. We conducted a content analysis to identify themes related to the use of specific software programs. Results Nearly all researchers (96%) used SPSS, and the primary reasons for its use were perceived ease of use and familiarity, often due to their training. Almost two-thirds of participants had used R at some point; it was the top software they wanted to improve their skills in. Common reasons for using R were its capabilities and advanced features, including an alignment with open science. Conclusion Reasons for using statistical software differ based on the program, with a strong contrast between familiarity-based use (SPSS) and capacity-driven use (R).

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