The Scientific Method
This is the term for a testable statement that predicts the outcome of a study.
What is a hypothesis?
This term refers to data that is reasonably complete and accurate, and gathered in a clear and transparent manner.
What is reliable data?
Sampling strategies are used to collect ____________ data.
What is representative?
Name a technique used to collect sample data discussed in this section.
What is random sampling, systematic sampling, light traps, capture-mark-recapture, or quadrats?
True or False: There are methods of data collection that include the use of technology.
What is true?
This type of data is non-numerical and descriptive, often gathered through observations, interviews, or focus groups.
What is qualitative data?
This term means to be free from the influence of personal beliefs or opinions.
What is unbiased?
Name one of the two main sampling strategies discussed in this section that helps to ensure samples are well distributed and have a low risk of bias.
What is random sampling or systematic sampling?
What is the name of the index used to calculate estimated population size?
What is the Lincoln index?
What term is used to describe very large sets of data that are collected using technology?
What is big data?
In an experiment, this is the variable that is changed to test the hypothesis.
What is the independent variable?
The accuracy of historical global climate data is questioned prior to this year, due to limitations in data collection methods.
What is 1880?
How do you select sample points in random sampling?
What is by using random numbers?
Besides abundance, what other two things can you estimate using quadrat data?
What are percentage cover and frequency?
What is a system designed to capture, store, analyze, and manage geographic data?
What is a geospatial or geographic information system (GIS)?
Explain why a hypothesis is not changed to fit the results when the data proves it incorrect.
What is because the data is used to show that the hypothesis was incorrect?
Name a way in which bias in climate data collection can be misleading?
What is that it can cause mistrust within the scientific and wider community, undermining hypotheses?
Describe a scenario where systematic sampling is more effective.
What is when data does not show patterns and there is a low risk of data manipulation by the researcher?
What is one limitation of using a questionnaire for data collection?
What is that completed questionnaires may contain unanswered questions, dishonest answers, or misinterpretations of the questions?
Name one benefit of big data analysis
What is that it can reveal patterns and relationships between data sets?
Name three types of limitations that can occur in scientific experiments.
What are limitations in research design, materials, methodology, available time, and costs, problems with the sample, sample size and issues with the instruments or techniques used to collect the information, existing human knowledge, human error, and researcher bias?
Explain how the misuse of data in reporting on climate change can occur and give an example.
What is that it can involve focusing on short-term trends rather than long-term patterns, or presenting data in a way that supports a specific viewpoint, as seen in the conflicting articles about Greenland ice sheet changes?
A researcher is studying plant diversity in a large forest with varied terrain, including flat areas, slopes, and wetlands. Which sampling strategy would be more suitable and why?
What is random sampling, because it minimizes researcher bias and is useful when the population size is relatively small, ensuring all areas of the forest have an equal chance of being sampled, regardless of the terrain?
Explain how to calculate estimated abundance using the ACFOR scale and quadrat data.
What is that plants identified in each quadrat are allocated an abundance letter (A, C, F, O, or R), representing categories from abundant to rare, and this is used to estimate abundance?
Outline a limitation of the analysis of big data.
What is that the operation and interpretation of data captured using technology requires highly trained people, and the cost of technology is often high?