Scientific Method
Define Independent Variable
The manipulated variable - the thing "I" change
Define the terms anthropogenic and climate change.
Anthropogenic: relating to human activity, usually associated with different forms of pollution.
Climate change: Detectable change in the global temperatures. It is also referred to a global warming.
Define stratified sampling
Stratified sampling
A method of sampling that involves the separation of the population into smaller samples (strata). The strata are formed based on shared characteristics (income, education, gender, culture)
What method of sampling do we use the Lincoln Index for?
Capture - Mark - Recapture
Define Big Data
A large amount of data that cannot be analyzed by regular people
Describe how a hypothesis becomes a theory
A hypothesis becomes a theory when it is consistently supported by investigation and observation
List the three climate change arguments.
A beating tray consists of light colored cloth that is stretched on a square or rectangular frame. The frame is then held underneath a tree branch or a shrub and the foliage is shaken. The insects that fall from the branches land on the cloth and can be examined and identified.
List some benefits and limitations of beating trays
Limitations:
flying insects may fly off as soon as they fall onto the tray
If you hit the vegetation too hard they you can damage the plant and end up with large amounts of leaves and debris in your sample
Time of day matters when taking this kind of sample
Benefits:
easy, affordable
After random sampling, 200 penguins are captured, tagged and released. A month later, 180 untagged and 20 tagged penguins are captured. Use the lincoln index to estimate the total penguin population.
Population size = n1 * n2 / m2
n1= total caught and marked in the first sample
n2 = total caught in the second sample
m2 = marked animals in the second sample
Population size = 2,000 penguins
What are some benefits to satellite sensors?
- Covers the entire globe
- Can move horizontally or laterally
- Continuous data collection
- Depending on scanning capabilities data can be gathered quickly
Define Bias and explain how bias could affect the results of an experiment
Bias is a preconceived opinion on the subject being tested. It can completely skew data making the experiment unreliable and non valid
Give two pieces of evidence that scientists use to show that climate has been colder or hotter in the geological past.
Geological deposits, coastal landforms, and ice sheets
Explain how either pitfall traps is used in the field for sampling a mobile species.
This trap usually consists of a cup or beaker that is buried so that the lip of the container is level with the surface of the ground. The insects then fall into the trap and can then be identified when the trap is checked.
What is the population density equation?
Pop density = area/total population
What are some limitations to Radio tracking
- Can interfere with animals lifestyle if tracker is too heavy
- Researchers must be within certain range for it to collect data
- Batteries have life span
Define Quantitative Data and identify when in the experiment we take quantitative data
Define Qualitative Data
Give an example of each
Quantitative - numerical values for data
This type of data is taken during the experiment
Qualitative - descriptive data using the 5 senses
This type of data is used to make observations before the experiment
Explain why ice cores are considered one of the best available records of past climate estimates
Ice is formed as snow accumulates each year. The weight of the snow compresses the previous layers of snow, eventually forming deep ice sheets. When the snow falls, it traps air bubbles in the ice. Those bubbles preserve information about the atmosphere at the time it was formed. Therefore, it deposits climate information from that time onto the ice sheet, such as the gaseous composition of the air, or other atmospheric pollutants.
Compare and contrast random and systematic sampling
Random sampling - Samples are based on drawing names/numbers out of a hat or using a computer program to give a random list.
Random sampling is useful when the population size or size of the individual samples is relatively small, and all individuals have an equal chance of being sampled
Systematic sampling - Involves choosing a sample based on regular intervals rather than random selection.
Systematic sampling is better when data does not show patterns and there is a low risk of data manipulation by the researcher.
As sample sizes become larger and a researcher needs to create multiple samples it can become expensive and time consuming which is when systematic sampling works best
Both are set up in a way to try and prevent bias
What does the ACFOR score measure and what does the acronym stand for?
It measure relative abundance and stands for Abundant, Common, Frequent, Occasional, Rare
What are the benefits of Modelling?
-Uses an algorithm to do analysis tasks humans cant do
- Able to predict weather and naturally occurring events to better prepare for them
- Allows prediction of drug side effects and you’re able to choose which drugs would be
safest to use
- Used to track infectious diseases
Mr. Krabbs wants to make Bikini Bottom a nice place to live. He has created a new sauce that he thinks will reduce the production of body gas associated with eating krabby patties. He recruits 100 customers with a history of has problems. He has 50 of them (Group A) eat the krabby patties with the new sauce. The other 50 (Group B) eat krabby patties with sauce that looks like the new sauce but is just food coloring and mayonnaise. Two hours after eating the krabby patties, 30 customers in group A reported having few gas problems and 8 customers in group B reported fewer gas problems. Identify the IV, DV, and Control.
IV: The sauce
DV: The amount of customers with gas problems
Control: Krabby patties with mayonnaise and food coloring
Identify nonanthropogenic reasons for climate change
volcanism, oceanic circulation, and solar flares
The researcher was working in a small village in Ecuador, with 92 small farmers spread out over a wide area. Explain the process that the researcher could employ to select which farmers should be given the questionnaire.
Due to the relatively low sample random sampling would work best in this case scenario. The researcher could assign a number 1 - 92 to each of the residents of the village and then use a random number generator to select which participants will be given the questionnaire.
Calculate the Diversity index of this example.
Total N = 211
N(N-1) = 44,310
Sigma n(n-1) = 21,130
21,130/44,310 = .48
1 - .48 = .52
D= .52
Give BOTH benefits and limitations for crowdsourcing
Benefits:
- Makes new discoveries
- Develops tech and applications based on community issues
- can reach a wide audience
Limitations:
- No confidentiality
- Misleading information (BIAS)