Method: Site Selection

Question 1

Why did you choose the Langden Brook?

Answer 1

It is relatively nearby so i could easily and thoroughly investigate the river within the allocated time of one day
-also relitively natural so my results should be fairly representative of the theory studied

Question 2

Explain systematic sampling

Answer 2

Means that the samples are taken at regular fixed intervals

Question 3

How did you use systematic sampling? Why?

Answer 3

I used i to select 10 sites along the river fomr which to take data
-In this example the sites were evenly spaced along the course of the river because i needed a representation of all 3 courses in order to show changes downstream

Question 4

Why was random sampling not used?

Answer 4

I could get results from just one course of the river - which would give unrepresentative results

Question 5

Why was 10 sites appropriate?

Answer 5

It was enough for me to be able to reliably calculate Spearman’s Rank Correlation efficient but still a low enough number for me to be able to perform the fieldwork in 1 day