Dealing with Data: Obtaining, creating and analysing data for postgraduate research

ialeUK Postgraduate Workshop 2013

Landscape ecology is the study of interactions, across space and time, between the structure and function of physical, biological and cultural components of landscapes.

Scientific research plays a key role in guiding effective management and conservation at the practical level and for future Governmental legislation and policy.

This workshop provided an opportunity for those engaged in postgraduate research to explore the types of data which are available to them and to be introduced to statistical techniques commonly used when analysing landscape, ecological and cultural data.

Programme Outline

Mon 13th May - Obtaining Data for Research

Geoff Griffiths & Andrew Mead

am: Introduction to secondary data sources

  • Obtaining online data
  • Statistical issues with using these data

pm: Collecting primary data from the field

  • ‘Sampling design’ with statistics in mind
  • Practical session in the field (weather permitting)

Tues 14th May – Statistical Analysis of Data

Andrew Mead

  • Introduction to popular techniques e.g. multivariate analysis, correspondence analysis
  • A look at some commonly used statistical packages including SPSS, ‘R’ and Canoco.
  • The chance to seek expert advice and help for analysing your own data.