biol+2+field+study+report

In the method section, what do you mean by 'list the variables and how they were controlled'? AND what is the difference between provide a step by step procedure of what was done and give a brief summary of how the experiment was completed? Is a breif summary just 'quadrats were laid out 10 metres apart on either side of the line and the organsims inside were identified and counted.'? JA //A. Well there were 12 quadrats that were sampled. What did you keep the same when measuring abundance? Ie what variables (factors) did you control? Eg same day! there are a number of others that I expect you to come up with. This is a really important biological skill that is crucial for next year! As mentioned in the handout, you first give a general idea of what you did. Then later you give the step by step procedure. Eg. GENERAL = quadrats were used to measure abundance along a transect line STEP BY STEP //
 * //A 50m transect was laid down //
 * //Quadrats were placed on either side of the transect, 10m apart from 0m to 50m mark (see diagram) //
 * //abundance was measured by counting organisms within quadrat //

//Hope this helps. VM //


 * Q. awesome. this answers some of my questions too. ..just a few more queries.. my GENERAL and STEP BY STEP part was much more detailed than what you gave as an example above!, should the procedure for example not be written in such detail?! and, what did you mean by 'statistical models'? and what did you mean by 'qualitative vs. quantitative observations'? AND (last thing...promise..) did you want us to mention the 'errors' made in the method/procedure/results/discussion...?? LA**

//A. Awesome, you have made a contribution LA. The procedure must be written in enough detail so that anyone can duplicate your investigation. We aren't really using any statistical models other than the idea of taking an average of two numbers. You don't really need to worry about this.The handout explains the difference between quantitative and qualitative. You should clearly mention which type you are referring to in your results. Errors would be discussed in the discussion when you are trying to give meaning to the results. But you would also mention these in the results if they are to do with the procedure that you used, you might put these under a subheading of "procedural observations". Eg. "It was noticed that not all quadrats were placed the same distance from the transect line." Remember there is no need to explain your observations or anything at all in the results section. All you do is convey what you observed or the data your obtained. VM //
 * Q. Hey vojtech, besides the graphs explaining how many of the two organisms we found and a graph showing the number of different types of organisms at each marker what other graphs are there to include? JA**

//A. Well, as it says in the handout, I expect you to be able address each of the three focus areas in your results. It is up to you whether you include tables and/or graphs for each one and how many but you should be presenting some sort of results that you have gotten by doing something to the raw data to help address each of the focus areas. VM //
 * Q. If the errors are the same for all graphs, and i drew up four graphs, do i have to list the errors four times - once for each graph? (sorry for all the questions, go to sleep after this one) JA**

//A. Same errors only need to be mentioned once. VM //  **Q. Hi Voj [ Didn't see this page, so sent you an email too) Do we need to use separate graphs for distribution of the 2 different species?**

// A. no, you can put both species on the same graph. VM //


 * Q. Similarly, do you want us to measure pop. density of all species, or just 2 of our choice?**

// A. It is up to you, remember that the key thing is to be able to address the three different focus areas in your results. How you do it is up to you. VM //


 * Q. Lastly, do you want us to add our tables (with the averages) in the report, or is that considered 'raw data'? LB**

// A. Any table that involves you doing something to the raw data should be put in your results. VM //