Assignment 1

Week 1 Practice - Basics in R Programming
Author
Affiliation

Eleana Cabello

Department of Microbiology and Immunology, OUHS

Published

July 3, 2025

Overview

Due date: 07/08/25 at 11:59pm

Most programming languages are similar in their underlying logic, but differ in execution, efficiency, and, more importantly, their syntax. R is one of the most popular languages used for data analysis in biomedical research. Its programming syntax is unique and differs from other popular languages in the same category as it like Python. Gaining a better understanding of R’s core features and becoming familiar with its syntax will help you perform analyses more effectively and efficiently.

In the Swirl lessons for this week, you will learn the following:

  • Navigating files and directories
  • Assigning and using variables
  • Creating, modifying, and subsetting vectors
  • Creating and modifying sequences
  • Handling missing values
  • Simple matrices and dataframes
  • Logics (TRUE, FALSE, AND, OR, etc.) in R
  • Gain experience with base features in R

Swirl Course Setup

  1. In RStudio, install and load the swirl package

    install.packages("swirl")

    library("swirl")

  2. Navigate to this link. Download the Swirl lesson file 1_R_Programming_Mod.swc. Move it into your working directory for the class.

  3. Once you have the file in your working directory, in the console of RStudio type the command below and after the swc_path = type " and then hit tab to interactively choose the 1_R_Programming_Mod.swc file you just downloaded from your working directory. The command will look something like install_course(swc_path = "1_R_Programming_Mod.swc"). Run the command to install the course.

    install_course(swc_path = )

  4. Start Swirl by typing the following command

    swirl()

Working through the Lessons

  1. Please enter your full name together when asked what you want to be called by e.g. JaneDoe

  2. Complete all lessons:

  • 1: Basic Building Blocks
  • 2: Workspace and Files
  • 3: Sequences of Numbers
  • 4: Vectors
  • 5: Missing Values
  • 6: Subsetting Vectors
  • 7: Matrices and Data Frames
  • 8: Logic
Important

  • You can take breaks between lessons (like shutting down Swirl and exiting RStudio), just use the same name when logging in for documenting purposes on the instructor’s end.

  • If you start a lesson, please complete it fully before taking a break. If you stop RStudio in the middle of a lesson, your progress for that lesson may still be saved in the history for that package locally, but will not be saved or sent to us on the instructor’s end.

  • If you do not get to the Google Form end of any lesson, please email one of the instructors as soon as possible.

Submission

Note

  • FYI: You need a google account to submit the assignment.

  • Swirl will navigate you to the submission Google Form of each lesson. However, review the instructions below before submitting to make sure you are able to submit correctly.

  • When submitting please make sure the box is not empty, if it is please email one of the instructors.

  1. At the end of each lesson the following question will appear, enter the selection Yes to be redirected to your autofilled Google Form submission

  2. Once you’ve been redirected, your Swirl activity will be autofilled into the submission box, just hit the Submit button

Important
  • If you do not get to the Google Form at the end of any lesson, please email one of the instructors as soon as possible.