Vectorization in R significantly enhances computational efficiency in data analysis tasks compared to traditional iterative approaches. By applying operations to entire vectors or matrices at once rather than looping through each element individually, R minimizes the overhead associated with repeated function calls and iteration. This approach not only reduces processing time but also leverages optimized, compiled code under the hood, making computations faster and more resource-efficient. For students seeking "R programming assignment help," understanding and implementing vectorization can lead to more streamlined and effective solutions in their assignments.