Choosing Field Sitesand

Logging Data

SODA: The Life-force of a Geographer

• Speculate– Why is that there?– Create hypothesis and/or research question

• Observe– See the landscape– Support/not support your hypothesis &/or RQ

• Describe– How did you “do” it?– Why did you use that method?– Explain and expound on what you “see”

• Analyze– Synthesize your SOD: what do your findings tell you?

Field Research Design

• Formulating the Problem– Research question/problem/hypothesis,

preliminary data requirements

• Project Planning– Study area, source materials, reconnaissance,

pilot study, project time & personnel, public relations & access

• Field Data Collection– Equipment & materials, data recording method

• Processing, Analysis, Synthesis

Factors Affecting Site SelectionDirection

Location

Factors Affecting Site Selection

• Hypotheses and/or Research Question(s)

• Location

• Time

• Cost

• Access

Types of Data

Primary vs. Secondary

Primary Data

• Data YOU collect via research YOU conduct!

• Uses?

Primary Data

• Types of PD:– FIELD-based– Technical-based (e.g., a new algorithm)– “Accidental”– Compilations and Compendiums– Others?

Primary Data

• Factors in Selecting Primary Data– Time– Familiarity– Balance

Primary Data

• Analyzing Primary Data– Has it been done before?– Is your data “new”?– Is your data “valuable”? Why?– Did you take into account literature and

previous research/studies? Why or why not?

Secondary Data

What is Secondary Data? – Data someone else has already gathered– Can be used in research as:

• Supplemental information (add to own findings, or help explain and validate own findings)

• Exclusive information

– Categorize, locate, select, and analyze “secondary” data

Secondary Data

• 2 main Categories:– Primary sources: came into existence in

the period under research• 2 types of primary sources

– Deliberate (e.g., autobiographies, diaries, memoirs, etc.)

– Inadvertent (e.g., legislative and government records, handbooks, personal files, newspapers, bulletins, etc.)

– Secondary sources: interpretations of events of that period based on primary data

Secondary Data

• Location of secondary data– Watch out for confidential information

• Factors in Selecting Secondary Data– Time

– Familiarity– Balance

Secondary Data

Secondary Data

• Analyzing secondary data– External Criticism & Internal Criticism– “External” attempts to discover whether a

document is both genuine and authentic– “Internal” attempts to analyze the contents

of data

Sampling Methods

• Scale– Large vs. small; extensive and/or intensive

• Sampling Units– Point: absolute location (e.g., GPS)– Area: fixed or variable plots– Linear: transects– Plotless: dimensions of sampling unit not

clearly defined

Spatial Sampling Designs

• Hierarchical

• Random

• Systematic spatial

• Stratified

Data Logging

• Field Journal

• Digital means?

• Recorders

• Computers

• Data loggers

• Other Ideas?

Data Reporting & Analyzing

Percent of Vegetation Disturbance forUpper Sonoran Lifestyle Community Sites (L1, L2, L3)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

.3 m .6 m .9 m 1.2 m 1.5 m 1.8 m 2.1 m 2.4 m 2.7 m 3 m

Distance Interval

Pe

rce

nt

L1 T3-l

L1 T3-r

L1 T4-r

L1 T5-l

L1 T5-r

L2 T1-l

L2 T1-r

L2 T3-l

L3 T2-l

L3 T2-r

ExponentialDistanceDecay

Readings

• Naylor , L.A., H.A. Viles, N.E.A. Carter. 2002. Biogeomorphology revisited: looking towards the future Geomorphology 47:3 –14.

• Roovers, P., S. Baeten, and M. H. 2004. Plant species variation across path ecotones in a variety of common vegetation types. Plant Ecology 170:107–119.

• Sukopp, H. 2004. Human-caused impact on preserved vegetation Landscape and Urban Planning 68:347–355.

• Romig, K. 2005. The Upper Sonoran Lifestyle: Gated Communities in Scottsdale, Arizona. City & Community 4(1):67-86.