choosing field sites and logging data. soda: the life-force of a geographer speculate –why is that...
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Choosing Field Sitesand
Logging Data
SODA: The Life-force of a Geographer
• Speculate– Why is that there?– Create hypothesis and/or research question
• Observe– See the landscape– Support/not support your hypothesis &/or RQ
• Describe– How did you “do” it?– Why did you use that method?– Explain and expound on what you “see”
• Analyze– Synthesize your SOD: what do your findings tell you?
Field Research Design
• Formulating the Problem– Research question/problem/hypothesis,
preliminary data requirements
• Project Planning– Study area, source materials, reconnaissance,
pilot study, project time & personnel, public relations & access
• Field Data Collection– Equipment & materials, data recording method
• Processing, Analysis, Synthesis
Factors Affecting Site SelectionDirection
Location
Factors Affecting Site Selection
• Hypotheses and/or Research Question(s)
• Location
• Time
• Cost
• Access
Types of Data
Primary vs. Secondary
Primary Data
• Data YOU collect via research YOU conduct!
• Uses?
Primary Data
• Types of PD:– FIELD-based– Technical-based (e.g., a new algorithm)– “Accidental”– Compilations and Compendiums– Others?
Primary Data
• Factors in Selecting Primary Data– Time– Familiarity– Balance
Primary Data
• Analyzing Primary Data– Has it been done before?– Is your data “new”?– Is your data “valuable”? Why?– Did you take into account literature and
previous research/studies? Why or why not?
Secondary Data
What is Secondary Data? – Data someone else has already gathered– Can be used in research as:
• Supplemental information (add to own findings, or help explain and validate own findings)
• Exclusive information
– Categorize, locate, select, and analyze “secondary” data
Secondary Data
• 2 main Categories:– Primary sources: came into existence in
the period under research• 2 types of primary sources
– Deliberate (e.g., autobiographies, diaries, memoirs, etc.)
– Inadvertent (e.g., legislative and government records, handbooks, personal files, newspapers, bulletins, etc.)
– Secondary sources: interpretations of events of that period based on primary data
Secondary Data
• Location of secondary data– Watch out for confidential information
• Factors in Selecting Secondary Data– Time
– Familiarity– Balance
Secondary Data
Secondary Data
• Analyzing secondary data– External Criticism & Internal Criticism– “External” attempts to discover whether a
document is both genuine and authentic– “Internal” attempts to analyze the contents
of data
Sampling Methods
• Scale– Large vs. small; extensive and/or intensive
• Sampling Units– Point: absolute location (e.g., GPS)– Area: fixed or variable plots– Linear: transects– Plotless: dimensions of sampling unit not
clearly defined
Spatial Sampling Designs
• Hierarchical
• Random
• Systematic spatial
• Stratified
Data Logging
• Field Journal
• Digital means?
• Recorders
• Computers
• Data loggers
• Other Ideas?
Data Reporting & Analyzing
Percent of Vegetation Disturbance forUpper Sonoran Lifestyle Community Sites (L1, L2, L3)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
.3 m .6 m .9 m 1.2 m 1.5 m 1.8 m 2.1 m 2.4 m 2.7 m 3 m
Distance Interval
Pe
rce
nt
L1 T3-l
L1 T3-r
L1 T4-r
L1 T5-l
L1 T5-r
L2 T1-l
L2 T1-r
L2 T3-l
L3 T2-l
L3 T2-r
ExponentialDistanceDecay
Readings
• Naylor , L.A., H.A. Viles, N.E.A. Carter. 2002. Biogeomorphology revisited: looking towards the future Geomorphology 47:3 –14.
• Roovers, P., S. Baeten, and M. H. 2004. Plant species variation across path ecotones in a variety of common vegetation types. Plant Ecology 170:107–119.
• Sukopp, H. 2004. Human-caused impact on preserved vegetation Landscape and Urban Planning 68:347–355.
• Romig, K. 2005. The Upper Sonoran Lifestyle: Gated Communities in Scottsdale, Arizona. City & Community 4(1):67-86.
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