[R] Size of R user base

[Uwe Ligges]

Kevin S. Van Horn wrote:
> Prof Brian Ripley wrote:
> 
>>> Conclusion:  Very few books sell to more than 12% of the population 
>>> of potential buyers, and most books have a far lower penetration -- 
>>> 1% or   
>>
>>
>> Where did you get that 12% from?
>>
> 
> A booklet on assessing financial feasibility in nonfiction book 
> publishing.  That's a general figure, so perhaps it doesn't apply if the 
> book in question is a must-have, definitive reference for the group in 
> question... like the book you mention (if it's the one I think it is).
> 
>> I have big problems with the definition. What is an `R user'? Someone  
>> who has ever used R, even for a one-hour practical class? Someone who 
>> has used R in the last 3 months?
> 
> 
> 
> Good question.  I guess I'd lean more towards your second definition, 
> with the added caveat of "and expects to use it again in the next 3 
> months".


Folks, for sure I am biased, but on the floor my office is located, 
there are at least 12 people working quite frequently with R. I'm the 
only one subscribed on R-help. Let's underestimate the rest of the 
department to include 10 other R users (among them, there is another one 
subscribed to R-help). Many of our students are not only using R when 
they have to, but also when they are allowed to use a software product 
of their choice. I don't think any of these students I'd call R users is 
subscribed to the list.
BTW: There are more users who own the book that was mentioned several 
times in this thread than users who are subscribed to the list. 
Furthermore, some people have got the book, but do not use R or S-PLUS.

I think it is impossible to estimate the real number of R users 
(whatever that is) if we require a moderate confidence interval.

Uwe