HAD

Introduction to HAD: A Free Statistical Analysis Tool

HAD is a free statistical analysis program that operates within Microsoft Excel. Developed by Professor Hiroshi Shimizu of Kwansei Gakuin University, HAD is designed to facilitate statistical analysis for educational and research purposes. It offers a wide range of statistical techniques, from basic analyses to advanced multivariate methods, all accessible through an intuitive Excel interface.

Key Features of HAD

• Wide Range of Statistical Analyses: HAD supports various statistical methods, including t-tests, ANOVA, regression analysis, factor analysis, structural equation modeling (SEM), hierarchical linear modeling (HLM), and generalized linear models (GLM).
• Excel Integration: As an Excel-based tool, HAD allows users to perform statistical analyses without the need for specialized statistical software, making it accessible to a broader audience.
• Multilingual Support: HAD has been localized into multiple languages, including Japanese, English, and Chinese, to cater to a diverse user base.
• Educational Focus: The program is particularly suited for educational settings, providing students and educators with a practical tool for learning and teaching statistical concepts.
• Open Source Licensing: HAD is released under the GPLv2 license, allowing users to freely use, modify, and distribute the software, provided they adhere to the licensing terms.

How to Use HAD

Using HAD involves the following steps:

1. Download and Install: Obtain the latest version of HAD from the official website. Ensure that you have a compatible version of Microsoft Excel (2010 or later).
2. Prepare Your Data: Input your data into an Excel worksheet, ensuring that the first row contains variable names and subsequent rows contain data entries.
3. Run Analyses: Access the HAD interface through Excel’s VBA environment and select the desired statistical analysis. Follow the prompts to specify the necessary parameters and execute the analysis.
4. Interpret Results: Review the output generated by HAD, which will be displayed within Excel. The results will include relevant statistical metrics and visualizations to aid in interpretation.

Pricing

HAD is completely free to use. It is distributed under the GPLv2 license, allowing users to download, use, and modify the software without any cost. However, users are encouraged to acknowledge the software’s origin and adhere to the terms of the license when redistributing or modifying the program.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• Is HAD suitable for large datasets? While HAD is designed for educational purposes and can handle moderate-sized datasets, it may not be optimized for very large datasets or complex simulations.
• Can HAD be used on Mac computers? Yes, HAD is compatible with Excel for Mac 2011 and later versions. However, users may experience differences in performance and functionality compared to the Windows version.
• Is prior statistical knowledge required to use HAD? Basic understanding of statistical concepts is beneficial. However, HAD’s user-friendly interface and accompanying documentation make it accessible to beginners.
• Can HAD be used for research purposes? Yes, HAD can be used for research. When publishing results obtained using HAD, users should cite the following reference: Shimizu, H. (2016). HAD: A Free Statistical Analysis Program. Media, Information, and Communication Studies, 1, 59-73.