I am a senior researcher at SUM with a doctoral degree ecological botany' The theses was based on an

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• I am a senior researcher at SUM with a doctoral
  degree ecological botany. The theses was based on
  an interdisciplinary study in the rainforest of
  Guatemala.
• Now working on two EU projects.

SUM 4011 A
Research methods I
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Research tools and methods.

• Prescribed texts
• - Read and understand the important aspects of
  Data collection.., (ch. 1).
• Read the papers and comprehend the object of
  each paper, look for methodology, form and
  structure.
• Read them critically.
• - Dont pay attention to the statistically
  analysis.

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Lecture 1.1

• Research tools and methods.

-Defining the scope of your study. -Hypothesis or
research questions? -Experimental studies? /
Observational studies? /

Surveys? /Theoretical
study? -Sampling design -Field work -Data
analysis
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• Research tools and methods.

• 1. What am I interested in studying?
• The statement of the problem serves as a
  guideline throughout the design of the project.
• The objective follows the statement of the
  problem
• And the methodology must serve the objectives of
  the study

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Defining the scope of your study.

• 2. A small short-term study, or a large
  long-term study?
• - Do you want an in-depth study?
• -Easy to be overly enthusiastic with regard to
  what can be achieved.
• -The size of the project has important budget and
  resource implications.

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Defining the scope of your study.

• 2. Long field work involves at least three field
  work periods.
• Allow an in-depth analysis of a situation.
• Time is available for quantitative analysis.
• Allow a broader scope of the study.
• Time is available for voucher collections.

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• 3. An Interdisciplinary / multidisciplinary
  study?
• Research often inflicts on, or poses assertion
  involving other disciplines.
• Be aware of the competence of authors (and your
  own).
• Is it possible for one person to be competent in
  more than one discipline?

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• 3. An Interdisciplinary study?
• Does the project touch upon other disciplines?
  -Be ware of own competence.
• How to achieve inter-disciplinarity?
• Common field period?
• Meeting arenas?
• Other?
• Project leader/coordinator should be identified.
• Group communication and group organization
  important aspects.

Cooperation or not?
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• 4. Hypothesis or research questions?
• To work by a hypothesis may sharpen and simplify,
  it is however, best used in lager phases of the
  investigation, or when substantial knowledge of
  the system is already obtained.
• For a hypothesis to be tested, certain
  statistical assumptions needs to be met.
• Ex. Peres et al. Patterns of variation in
  population size structure are consistent with
  recruitment bottleneck resulting from long-term
  harvest.
• Research questions enables a broader explorative
  focus of the investigation, best used in initial
  phases.
• Ex. Stige et al. 1. How do these effects differ
  geographically and 2. how do they differ among
  crop or animal types? 3. How much food to the
  effects correspond to in terms of the number of
  people who could be fed on above or below-average
  production?

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4. Different types of studies

• Experimental studies
• Observational studies
• Theoretical studies
• Surveys

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- Experimental studies

• Experimental studies are those which include
  manipulation of predictor variable and
  randomization of treatments.
• Experiments are the best tools for establishing
  causal relationships empirically.
• Highly controlled studies, such as laboratory
  experiments, may not give rise to realistic
  results.
• There is usually a trade-off between control and
  realism.

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- Experimental studies

• An example Estimating pine seedling response to
  ozone and acidic rain.
• Ozone level (treatment) was forced into the
  chambers surrounding the plants. Different levels
  assigned at random. Four replicates of each
  level.
• Acidic rain levels were imposed by dispensing
  volumes of premixed solutions (natural rain was
  excluded). Different levels assigned at random.
  Four replicates of each level.
• Each chamber can receive only one level of the
  ozone-acidic rain combination.
• Thus the experiment involved both manipulation
  of predictor variable and randomization of
  treatments!!

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- Observational studies

• Observational studies are controlled studies
  designed with respect to a particular hypothesis,
  but which lack randomisation of treatments.
• Such studies usually involve exploring
  relationships between a predestined set of
  response and predictor variables in a natural
  setting.
• Such studies are weaker in control than
  experimental studies, but are usually stronger in
  realism and representation.
• Observational studies (and surveys) often precede
  experimental studies.

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- Observational studies

• An example Migration in endangered butterfly.
• Measured local population size of the butterfly
  in 50 discrete habitat patches within an area of
  15 km2, and habitat quality, vegetation height,
  and an index of isolation of habitat (patch).
• Aim at predicting the local population density of
  butterfly, and relate densities to the habitat
  characteristics (treatments).
• Thus, there are treatments, but there are no
  randomization of treatments!

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- Theoretical studies

• Theoretical studies, seeking a variety of
  relevant data sources
• documentary studies,
• preparing instruments and tools for data
  collection and analysis,
• theoretical re-interpretation
• The Ortner and the Taylor article in the
  compendium, could serve as examples of
  theoretical studies.

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- Surveys

• Descriptive enumerative studies that are not
  based on any particular hypotheses are termed
  surveys.
• The central design issue in surveys is sampling.
• When designing a study, decisions have to be made
  regarding allocation of effort, the size of each
  sample, number of replicates and which values the
  predictor variable should take.
• An example of a survey could by the study by
  Nesheim et al. in the compendium. The informants
  are the sample and the different species are the
  predictor variables.

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Some possible subjects for analysis

• Desertification in the Sahel belt
• The development of a national park in a
  biodiversity hot spot area
• Pollution in a small community causing health
  problems
• Agriculture and pesticides and herbicides
• Knowledge of nature by a community
• Energy consumption