Richard Ristow: I stare, rather than getting out paper or sitting down and using an editor. I look at the problem in my mind; I'm hardly seeing my physical surroundings. Deep in my heart, I believe that every problem is simple and makes sense, from the right point of view. I try points of view until I find one that's at least close. I have a pretty good idea what my code is going to do before I write any of it.

King Douglas: Among experts, the consensus is that it is important to learn and use syntax. Why is that the case when SPSS makes it possible for the user to do most things via point and click?

Richard Ristow: The easy way to say it is that the difference between point and click and syntax is roughly analogous to the difference between spoken and written language. [After you write syntax,] you can look at it again. You can take something and change it a little. You can know what you’ve done. The absence of syntax is absolutely appalling. I would implement every single menu as a syntax-directed editor.

King Douglas: What SPSS timesavers do you employ most often? (e.g., snippets of code you can reuse, DO REPEAT statements, macros, etc.)

Richard Ristow: I use macros extensively, Loops and Do Repeats. It’s probably easier to make a mistake in a Do Repeat than in massive lines of code, but it’s much, much easier to find it.

King Douglas: How could the quality of science/math education available to the youth of our country be improved?

Richard Ristow: Well, right now I’d say it’s just better than appalling. Science and math education could be improved by encouraging the people who love these things. Our country as a whole needs a lot of bucking up in the area of the ethos of good work—and I don’t mean hard work, I mean good work—really caring about doing things well, and believing they can. Math fear is caused by being taught badly. I think there is such a thing as genuine lack of mathematical ability and I also think that it is rare enough that you can go a long time teaching without seeing it (maybe 1%).

King Douglas: What is your approach to problem solving?

Richard Ristow: You look for something that if solved will get you closer. Like the unofficial Seabees motto: “The difficult we do right away, the impossible may take a little longer.”

King Douglas: Has your expertise in SPSS (or other statistics/data management applications) influenced the way you approach your other work? If yes, describe.

Richard Ristow: Yes. I think that what I do, which is hearing the simplicity behind the complexity, is relatively similar to an analyst’s job. Another part of an analyst’s job is to believe that it can be done.

I've felt a connection between my life as a Friend and as a statistical consultant. Briefly, Friends spiritual practice includes a lot of listening, in the faith that there is a clear answer to be heard. Listening hard to someone's technical problem to hear the answer is a lot less mystical, but the same kind of practice.