Survey Reveals Students Prefer Minitab to Excel

Carpenters aren't the only ones who understand the value of using the right tool for the right job.

A recent survey by Nancy Pfenning, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Pittsburgh, revealed that students learning statistics had a strong preference for using Minitab Statistical Software over Excel. The number of students who rated Minitab as very easy to use was twice the number that gave Excel the same rating. And the students using Excel frequently expressed a need for more instruction, with 37% of them reporting that Excel was fairly difficult or very difficult to learn.

Pfenning, who polled three classes taught by the same professor to gather her data, concurs. "We've used Minitab in our classes for many years and never had requests for additional instruction in its use," she said. "Students using Excel need someone to walk them through the process of producing simple reports because there are a lot of hoops to jump through to make it do what they want."

When it comes to teaching and practicing statistics, why use a spreadsheet package just because it's handy? Incredible academic discounts at e-academy's Minitab Center and a wide range of licensing options for professionals make Minitab 15 the ideal - and affordable - choice.

This article originally appeared in the February 2005 issue of Minitab News.