Choosing Field Sites and 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 Selection Direction 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

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

Readings Naylor, L.A., H.A. Viles, N.E.A. Carter Biogeomorphology revisited: looking towards the future Geomorphology 47:3 –14. Roovers, P., S. Baeten, and M. H Plant species variation across path ecotones in a variety of common vegetation types. Plant Ecology 170:107–119. Sukopp, H Human-caused impact on preserved vegetation Landscape and Urban Planning 68:347–355. Romig, K The Upper Sonoran Lifestyle: Gated Communities in Scottsdale, Arizona. City & Community 4(1):67-86.