Proposal Case 006: Exploring Open Tools for Research

Not every researcher has access to licensed software — but curiosity can go a long way.

A doctor working in Kuching reached out, eager to learn and explore a suitable analysis software for her research. She needed an open-source option, something accessible yet capable of handling statistical work effectively.

We met on a Saturday afternoon via Google Meet for a two-hour online session. The session was video recorded and shared with her afterwards, so she could revisit the material anytime without worrying about taking notes.

Together, we explored JAMOVI — a user-friendly, open statistical platform built on R. It provided everything she needed for her level of analysis: simple data management, descriptive statistics, and basic inferential tests.

Although the software offered only fundamental functions, it was more than sufficient for her current needs. The only limitation was exporting results, as JAMOVI does not yet integrate smoothly with other tools for custom table formatting — something I would normally refine in R or SPSS.

Still, the session was a success. She learned how to navigate the software, run her analyses independently, and gain confidence using open tools for research.

Sometimes, simplicity is enough — what matters most is learning how to think statistically.