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Statistical Packages for Personal Computers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 November 2022

Carl Grafton  and
Anne Permaloff
Carl Grafton
Affiliation:
Auburn University at Montgomery
Anne Permaloff
Affiliation:
Auburn University at Montgomery
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Extract

An impressive number of reasonably priced personal computer software packages of interest to political scientists are now on the market. Owners of computers such as the TRS-80 Model III and the Apple II can purchase software for word processing and statistical analysis which can substantially increase their productivity. Scholars trying to meet publication deadlines need no longer be delayed by harried secretaries trying single-handedly to meet the needs of an entire department. A computer/word processor used by a typist of average ability is nearly the equal of a good professional secretary. And those with even fairly large statistical analysis requirements may no longer be tied to the university's hectic “computer center” where they must wait in line for terminals, try to think amid constant movement and never-ending conversation, or suffer errors produced by noise injected between their terminal and the main frame along telephone lines.

This is an analysis of statistical packages sold by four companies for use on a variety of low, moderate, and high priced personal computers. Our focus on these packages reflects our statistical needs for research and teaching. We were looking for programs capable of handling relatively large data bases and with the capacity to perform multiple regression and time series analyses. We needed a program that could be used to analyze data generated from small survey samples. This required both frequency distribution and contingency table development and analysis. Finally, we needed a program or programs in an affordable price range.

Type
Articles
Information
PS: Political Science & Politics , Volume 16 , Issue 2 , Spring 1983 , pp. 182 - 188
Copyright
Copyright © The American Political Science Association 1983

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References

1 The problem with Maxi Stat is that it uses part of its manufacturer's disk operating system (DOS) DOSPLUS, which Uiquite different from the Tandy Radio Shack TRSDOS. The other two packages provided on disk, Dynacomp and Number Cruncher, come on data disks without a DOS. The user transfers them to a TRSDOS (or another DOS he/she may be using) disk and they are ready to use. They are loaded into the computer after the user has gone from “DOS Ready” to “Basic.” A command of Run “Name of Program” begins program operation. However, even though Maxi Stat is written in Basic, attempting to run it from Basic produces an unenlightening error message. Maxi Stat is started directly from DOSPLUS status with an unobvious command (in terms of the documentation provided) DO MAXISTAT.

2 For example, it is impossible to make a second back-up copy of a data file on ASP running the program as written. By inspecting the program listing, thoughtfully included with the documentation, we were able to “short circuit” the program with a simple command.