Research design Flashcards

1
Q

whats ‘extensive research’?

A
  • large number of samples over many places as a basis for theoretical development
  • qualify our generalised statements by their probability of being correct
  • emphasis on pattern and regularity in data to represent regularity or process
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2
Q

whats an example of extensive research?

A
  • long term measurements
  • effect of climate change on european forests
  • measurement of tree-growth on soil conditions
  • long-term monitoring of forest health at selected sites
  • agreed measurements protocols, often done by many people / groups.
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3
Q

types of research design - whats extensive and intensive (example)

A
global perspective - extensive 
more localised (UK) - extensive but intensive too 
local area (swansea bay) - intensive
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4
Q

how to approach fieldwork -

A
  • important component of research.
  • experience of the environment
  • measurements of natural processes with minimal disturbance
  • typically measurements performed over a long period of time.
  • simulations in real conditions
    eg - climate simulation - drought warming vs control
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5
Q

example of intensive research -

A
  • effect of sheep grazing on soil compaction on gower peninsula
  • restricted to one or two places as a case study
  • easier to see how one variable effects another. with a problem that may not be relevant to other places.
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6
Q

what are the strengths of fieldwork?

A
  • measurements in ‘real’ conditions
  • better understanding of the system
  • changeable conditions
  • observations together with measurements
  • no major limitations of the scale of the experiment
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7
Q

what are the weaknesses of fieldwork?

A
  • conditions difficult to control
  • bad weather and daylight hours
  • long term experiments could end up being an ‘unusual year’
  • equipment vandalised by humans and animals
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8
Q

why do lab work?

A
  • analyses of the properties eg - concentrations of metals in water sample
  • testing behavior in controlled conditions eg - keeping the constant right (rain, temp, oxygen)
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9
Q

what does lab work require?

A
  • care to ensure no contamination
  • stored correctly so they are not affected by lab conditions
  • careful research design to ensure they are representative
  • often includes treatment and controls.
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10
Q

lab work sample preparation

A
  • sampling method
  • transport
  • storage
  • preparation
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11
Q

strengths of lab work

A
  • measurement in ‘controlled conditions’
  • very precise measurements of properties
  • not restricted to logistics and time
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12
Q

weaknesses of lab work

A
  • difficult to scale up the results from lab to field
  • simplicity of experiments ignore complex relationship and feedback intervals in the real world
  • difficult to judge how representative it is in real conditions
  • could get repetitive
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