Data collection/Fieldwork equipment

Question 1

How could you justify a location for data collection?

Answer 1

Accessibility
Safety consideration
Range of survey points available
Reliability/accuracy/validity

Question 2

What are the evaluative points you should consider for designing data collection sheets?

Answer 2

Sheets should be uniform so data collected in the same way each time > improves reliability
Should include space for additional notes to aid interpretation
Should include space for date/time > incase later patterns/anomalies identified > improving validity/reliability
May use paper sheets > but unclear if wet.
May collect electronically

Question 3

What are the positives and negatives of designing data collection sheets electronically?

Answer 3

+ Easy to sync data. Don’t need to input data by hand later reducing chances of human error
- Issues if wifi problems/doesn’t sync/rains

Question 4

What is a clinometer?

Answer 4

measures angle of slopes (using the angle between two similar points on a ranging pole).
Swinging arm may be affected by the wind so should average
Electronic versions increase accuracy

Question 5

What are quadrats?

Answer 5

measure number of species; species richness; percentage cover

Question 6

What are callipers?

Answer 6

measures thickness and diameters of object e.g. for pebble size or trunk diameter.

Question 7

What are flowmeters?

Answer 7

measures flow rates of streams:

Question 8

What are anemometers?

Answer 8

measures speed of wind flow

Question 9

What are infiltrometers?

Answer 9

measures speeds of infiltration (depth of water infiltrated over a specified time limit)