7: Navigation Basics

7.1 Downloading and Installing Jamovi

Getting started with Jamovi is simple and user-friendly. It is available for both Windows and macOS. Visit the official Jamovi website at jamovi.org and click the Jamovi Desktop button. Select your preferred version on the next screen to download and install the program on your computer. The version labeled “solid” is recommended for most users, as it offers the most stable performance.

7.2 Opening Jamovi

Once Jamovi is installed, open the software by double-clicking the Jamovi icon. When launched, you’ll see a clean, user-friendly interface with two primary panes, Data and Results, and a Navigation Bar at the top. You can resize any pane by dragging its edges to suit your workspace preferences.

The Data Pane, located on the left side of the screen, allows you to view, edit, and manage your dataset. It resembles a spreadsheet, where each row represents a case (such as a study participant) and each column represents a variable. The column headers display your variable names. Within this pane, you can also import, transform, and clean your data.

The Results Pane, on the right side, displays the output from your statistical analyses. Results appear in a clean, organized format with easy-to-read tables and visualizations. You can copy results to your clipboard, export them to various formats, or generate reports directly from this pane.

The Navigation Bar at the top includes five primary tabs: Variables, Data, Analyses, Plots, and Edit. These tabs serve as the main tools for managing your dataset, running statistical tests, and adjusting settings.

Variables Tab

The Variables Tab is where you manage and define the properties of the variables in your dataset. For each variable, you can specify details such as the name, description, and measurement level (e.g., nominal, ordinal, continuous).

This tab also allows you to add, remove, or rename variables, as well as apply transformations such as recoding values or creating new computed variables.

Data Tab

The Data Tab is your primary workspace for viewing, editing, and organizing your dataset. Data are displayed in a spreadsheet-like table, where each row represents a case (e.g., a participant or observation) and each column represents a variable.

Within this tab, you can edit data directly by double-clicking on individual cells, add or remove rows and columns, and delete unnecessary data. You can also filter the dataset to focus on specific subgroups. In addition to editing the raw data, the Data Tab allows you to perform many of the same tasks available in the Variables Tab, such as renaming variables, changing measure types, and applying transformations like recoding or computing new variables.

Analyses Tab

The Analyses Tab is where you choose the statistical tests for your data. Analyses are organized into categories such as Exploration, T-Tests, ANOVA, Regression, and others. Each category contains specific statistical procedures suited to different types of data and research questions.

To run an analysis, simply select the desired test from the appropriate category. Jamovi will open a settings panel where you can assign variables, adjust test options, and customize outputs. Once the settings are configured, the analysis is automatically run, and the results are displayed in the Results Pane in real time.

Plots Tab

The Plots Tab, shown below, allows you to create visual representations of your data, making it especially useful for exploring distributions, identifying patterns, and communicating results clearly. Within this tab, you can generate common graphs such as bar plots, box plots, histograms, scatter plots, and line plots.

These visualizations help you examine relationships between variables, compare groups, and detect potential outliers or trends. The Plots Tab provides an intuitive way to translate numerical results into meaningful graphics that enhance interpretation and presentation.

Edit Tab

The Edit Tab allows you to directly modify the text output, making it especially useful when preparing reports or presenting results to a non-technical audience. Within this tab, you can add annotations to explain or clarify your findings, insert statistical formulas, and format text using bold, italics, or underline to highlight key information.

Additionally, the Edit Tab includes undo and redo options, allowing you to easily reverse or reapply changes made to your output.

Other Interface Features

Other essential features are also accessible within the Jamovi interface. The File Menu, located behind the three horizontal lines in the top-left corner, allows you to open, save, and manage your data files.

The Preferences Menu, accessed via the three vertical dots in the top-right corner, enables you to customize Jamovi’s appearance and behavior.

Here, you can adjust default settings such as statistic precision, chart styles, and output formatting options.

7.3 Adding Modules

Jamovi is modular, meaning its core functionality can be expanded with additional modules. These modules provide access to advanced statistical techniques and specialized analyses, allowing you to tailor the software to your specific research needs.

To access the Module Library, shown below, click the blue plus (+) symbol on the right side of the top navigation bar.

From there, you can browse available modules, shown below, read their descriptions, and install them with a single click.

Some modules may require additional setup, such as installing R packages; if so, Jamovi will provide step-by-step instructions.

Once installed, modules can be managed by selecting Manage Installed from the same module access menu. This allows you to uninstall modules you no longer need or check for updates to ensure everything stays current.