Search the Library Catalogue
Scientific method for ecological research (Record no. 15654)
[ view plain ]
| 000 -LEADER | |
|---|---|
| fixed length control field | 12538nam a2200217Ia 4500 |
| 003 - CONTROL NUMBER IDENTIFIER | |
| control field | OSt |
| 005 - DATE AND TIME OF LATEST TRANSACTION | |
| control field | 20220103162459.0 |
| 008 - FIXED-LENGTH DATA ELEMENTS--GENERAL INFORMATION | |
| fixed length control field | 160316s2000 xxu||||| |||| 00| 0 eng d |
| 020 ## - INTERNATIONAL STANDARD BOOK NUMBER | |
| International Standard Book Number | 0 521 66973 1 |
| 040 ## - CATALOGING SOURCE | |
| Transcribing agency | . |
| 082 ## - DEWEY DECIMAL CLASSIFICATION NUMBER | |
| Classification number | 344.046 FOR |
| Item number | FOR |
| 100 ## - MAIN ENTRY--PERSONAL NAME | |
| Personal name | Ford Edward David |
| 245 ## - TITLE STATEMENT | |
| Title | Scientific method for ecological research |
| 260 ## - PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION, ETC. | |
| Place of publication, distribution, etc. | Cambridge |
| Name of publisher, distributor, etc. | Cambridge University Press |
| Date of publication, distribution, etc. | 2000 |
| 300 ## - PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION | |
| Extent | 564p |
| Dimensions | xviii |
| 365 ## - TRADE PRICE | |
| Price amount | Rs.995 |
| 505 ## - FORMATTED CONTENTS NOTE | |
| Formatted contents note | Contents;<br/>Preface ;<br/>Acknowledgments;<br/>1 Component processes of ecological research <br/>Summary <br/>1.1 Questions about the process of scientific research <br/>1.2 Scientific methodology <br/>1.3 Distinction between progress and process in scientific research <br/>1.4 Section I: Developing an analytical framework <br/>1.5 Section II: Making a synthesis for scientific inference <br/>1.6 Section III: Working in the research community <br/>1.7 Section IV: Defining a methodology for ecological research <br/>1.8 Synopsis of methodological problems facing a new researcher in<br/>ecology 11<br/>1.9 How to use this book to develop your research skills 11<br/>1.10 Further reading 13<br/>Introduction to Section I: Developing an analytical<br/>framework 15<br/>2 Five processes of research planning 19<br/>Summary 19<br/>2.1 Introduction 20<br/>2.2 Process 1: Defining a research question 21<br/>2.2.1 Origins and types of research questions 21<br/>2.2.2 Analysis of questions 24<br/>2.3 Process 2: Applying creativity to develop new research ideas 28<br/>2.4 Process 3: Ensuring the proposed research has relevance to prior<br/>scientific knowledge 29<br/>2.5 Process 4: Ensuring the proposed research is technically feasible and<br/>can be completed with available resources 32<br/>2.6 Process 5: Determining how conclusions can be drawn 33<br/>2.6.1 Developing a data statement: An example 34<br/>2.6.2 Using statistics to illuminate the problem, not support a<br/>position 38<br/>2.7 Further reading<br/>3 Conceptual and propositional analysis for defining<br/>research problems 41<br/>Summary 41<br/>3.1 Introduction 41<br/>3.2 Constituents and properties of theories 42<br/>3.3 Conceptual and propositional analysis 56<br/>3.3.1 Phase One: Identifying the principal issues 57<br/>3.3.2 Phase Two: Classifying concepts according to their status in<br/>the progress of research 58<br/>3.3.3 Phase Three: Examining the complete research procedure 65<br/>3.4 Representing theories as networks 65<br/>3.5 What can be gained from a conceptual and propositional<br/>analysis? 67<br/>3.5.1 Deciding whether you can assume something or must<br/>investigate it 69<br/>3.5.2 Understanding logical relationships between different pieces<br/>of knowledge 69<br/>3.5.3 Assessing how complete a theory is 70<br/>3.5.4 Knowing when to start practical investigation 70<br/>3.6 Conclusion 71<br/>3.7 Further reading 71<br/>4 Development of a research plan 73<br/>Summary 73<br/>4.1 Introduction 73<br/>4.2 Process 1: Defining a research question 74<br/>4.2.1 The first description 74<br/>4.2.2 Initial development of a theory for the problem 76<br/>4.2.3 First definitions 77<br/>4.2.4 First consideration of Process 4: Ensuring the proposed research<br/>is technically feasible and can be completed with available<br/>resources 78<br/>4.2.5 First consideration of Process 2: Applying creativity to develop<br/>new research ideas 79<br/>4.2.6 Continuation of Process 1: Defining a research question 80<br/>4.3 Process 4: Ensuring the proposed research is technically feasible and<br/>can be completed with available resources 85<br/>4.4 Process 3: Ensuring the proposed research has relevance to prior<br/>scientific knowledge 93<br/>4.5 Process 2: Applying creativity to develop new research ideas 94<br/>4.6 Process 5: Determining how conclusions can be drawn 95<br/>4.7 Steel’s comments on the planning process after completing her<br/>Master’s thesis 101<br/>4.8 Further reading 10<br/>5 How theories develop and how to use them 103<br/>Summary 103<br/>5.1 Introduction 103<br/>5.2 Development of a theory from a simple postulate: Late-Quaternary<br/>vegetation change in central Alaska 108<br/>5.2.1 Stage 1: Rejecting a simple postulate 108<br/>5.2.2 Stage 2: Exploring for spatial and temporal changes 111<br/>5.2.3 Stage 3: Introducing axioms from tree ecology 113<br/>5.2.4 Stage 4: Increasing the precision of the theory 114<br/>5.2.5 Stage 5: Working towards explanations that are coherent with<br/>meteorological theories 115<br/>5.2.6 Assessment of theory development 116<br/>5.3 Practical application of a theory: Hybridization in fish species 118<br/>5.4 Development, properties, and use of ecological theories 127<br/>5.5 Further reading 129<br/>6 The art of measurement and experiment 131<br/>Summary 131<br/>6.1 Introduction 131<br/>6.2 Principles of measurement for new concepts 133<br/>6.3 Experimental analysis of ecological systems 136<br/>6.4 Planning an analytical experiment: An example – control of<br/>photosynthesis rate of Pinus strobus trees 142<br/>6.4.1 Results from an improved measurement technique 142<br/>6.4.2 Observing an anomaly 143<br/>6.4.3 Making a conceptual analysis of the problem 146<br/>6.4.4 Constructing multiple postulates 149<br/>6.4.5 Choosing a postulate to study 152<br/>6.4.6 Defining the experimental conditions 156<br/>6.4.7 Developing a measurement 158<br/>6.4.8 Designing treatment application, replication, and controls 159<br/>6.4.9 Investigating ancillary processes to aid interpretation and<br/>assessment 164<br/>6.5 Whole-system analytical experiments 164<br/>6.6 Discussion 165<br/>6.7 Further reading 167<br/>7 Methods of reasoning in research 169<br/>Summary 169<br/>7.1 Introduction 170<br/>7.2 Principles of propositional logic 171<br/>7.3 The use of propositional logic in ecological research 178<br/>7.4 The hypothetico-deductive method and use of falsification in<br/>scientiWc reasoning 183<br/>7.5 An exercise in choosing between postulates expected to be true and<br/>postulates expected to be false 187<br/>7.6 How to decide whether to attempt confirmation or falsification 189<br/>7.7 Using contrasts 195<br/>7.8 Causality 196<br/>7.9 A strategy for constructing theory using multiple working<br/>postulates 200<br/>7.10 Discussion 201<br/>7.11 Further reading 202<br/>8 Assessment of postulates 203<br/>Summary 203<br/>8.1 Introduction 204<br/>8.2 Refining postulates using exploratory analysis 206<br/>8.3 Developing a scientific procedure and set of measurements 210<br/>8.4 Satisfying the logic required for statistical inference 219<br/>8.4.1 Constructing and assessing a statistical hypothesis 226<br/>8.4.2 Completing the data statement 231<br/>8.5 Discussion 231<br/>8.6 Further reading 234<br/>9 Individual philosophies and their methods 235<br/>Summary 235<br/>9.1 Introduction 235<br/>9.2 Initial assumptions 239<br/>9.2.1 Teleology 239<br/>9.2.2 Parsimony 242<br/>9.2.3 Holism and reductionism 243<br/>9.2.4 Teleology, parsimony, and reductionism in ecology 244<br/>9.3 First formalizations of methodology 251<br/>9.3.1 Empiricism 251<br/>9.3.2 Rationalism 254<br/>9.3.3 Empiricism and rationalism in ecology 256<br/>9.4 Uncertainty about the objectivity of method 264<br/>9.4.1 Criticism 264<br/>9.4.2 Relativism 265<br/>9.4.3 Statistical experimentalism 266<br/>9.5 Discussion 267<br/>9.6 Further reading 268<br/>Introduction to Section II: Making a synthesis for<br/>scientific inference 269<br/>10 Properties and domains of ecological concepts 279<br/>Summary 279<br/>10.1 Introduction 280<br/>10.2 Definition and purpose of ecological concepts 281<br/>10.3 The domain of functional and integrative concepts 288<br/>10.4 Example of use and development of ecological concepts and their<br/>domains<br/>10.4.1 Developing definitions of natural and functional concepts 291<br/>10.4.2 Using functional concepts to define an integrative concept 293<br/>10.4.3 Making inference about an integrative concept 300<br/>10.5 Discussion 305<br/>10.6 Further reading 308<br/>11 Strategies of scientific research in ecology 309<br/>Summary 309<br/>11.1 Introduction 310<br/>11.2 Does ecological science advance through recurring revolutions? 311<br/>11.2.1 The ecosystem revolution 313<br/>11.2.2 The progress of normal science 315<br/>11.2.3 Did a revolution terminate the paradigm? 319<br/>11.2.4 How useful is Kuhn’s theory for understanding research<br/>strategy? 323<br/>11.2.5 Scientific inference and the ecosystem paradigm 324<br/>11.3 The methodology of scientific research programs 327<br/>11.3.1 A strategy for continuous assessment 327<br/>11.3.2 The components of a scientific research program 328<br/>11.3.3 Top-down and bottom-up forces in population and<br/>community ecology 330<br/>11.3.4 Criticisms of the methodology of scientific research<br/>programs 342<br/>11.4 The investigation of domains 344<br/>11.5 Discussion 348<br/>11.6 Further reading 349<br/>12 Use of mathematical models for constructing<br/>explanations in ecology 351<br/>Summary 351<br/>12.1 Introduction 352<br/>12.2 Dynamic systems models 353<br/>12.2.1 Simple differential equation models 353<br/>12.2.2 Using dynamic systems models to predict the unexpected 359<br/>12.2.3 Fitting dynamic systems models to ecological systems 363<br/>12.3 Statistical models of dependence 368<br/>12.3.1 Modeling dependence in time series as a stochastic process 369<br/>12.3.2 Assessing a stochastic time series model as an explain<br/>12.4 Systems simulation models 378<br/>12.4.1 Objectives, theory, and model design 379<br/>12.4.2 Calibration and validation 382<br/>12.4.3 Assessing using multiple outputs 385<br/>12.5 Discussion 389<br/>12.6 Further reading<br/>Introduction to Section III: Working in the research<br/>community 393<br/>13 Scientific research as a social process 395<br/>Summary 395<br/>13.1 Introduction 396<br/>13.2 Social influences and social structures 397<br/>13.2.1 The balance between norms and counternorms in scientists’<br/>behavior 397<br/>13.2.2 Cooperation and competition between individual<br/>scientists 403<br/>13.2.3 Fraud and misconduct in science 407<br/>13.2.4 The role of gender in scientific debate and discovery 410<br/>13.3 Creation and use of scientific literature 412<br/>13.3.1 Constructing a scientific paper 413<br/>13.3.2 Peer review 415<br/>13.3.3 Problems of quantity and quality 421<br/>13.3.4 Literature citation and its analysis 423<br/>13.4 Developing and using explicit standards of criticism to construct<br/>objective knowledge 425<br/>13.5 Discussion 427<br/>13.6 Further reading 429<br/>14 Values and standpoints and their influence on<br/>research 431<br/>Summary 431<br/>14.1 Introduction 431<br/>14.2 Standpoints in science, management, and policy 433<br/>14.2.1 Scientists’ standpoints 433<br/>14.2.2 Managerial standpoints 439<br/>14.3 Reviewing and funding scientific research 443<br/>14.3.1 Research proposals and their peer review 444<br/>14.3.2 Scientific research with policy implications 452<br/>14.4 Science, scientists, and society 455<br/>14.5 Discussion 462<br/>14.6 Further reading 463<br/>Introduction to Section IV: Defining a methodology<br/>for ecological research 465<br/>15 The methodology of progressive synthesis 467<br/>Summary 467<br/>15.1 Introduction 468<br/>15.2 The standpoint of Progressive Synthesis 468<br/>15.2.1 Types of acceptable explanation 469<br/>15.2.2 Certainty in scientific inference 472<br/>15.3 Principles of Progressive Synthesis 47<br/>15.3.1 Principle I: Continuous application of just and elective<br/>criticism 475<br/>15.3.2 Principle II: Precision is required in defining axioms and<br/>concepts, postulates and data statements, and theories 476<br/>15.3.3 Principle III: Explicit standards must be used to examine the<br/>relation between theory and data 478<br/>15.4 Components of the method of Progressive Synthesis 481<br/>15.4.1 Component 1: Analyze the question and seek to use<br/>contrastive techniques to focus the research 482<br/>15.4.2 Component 2: Expect to use different techniques of<br/>investigation as theories develop and new types of questions are<br/>asked 487<br/>15.4.3 Component 3: Refine both measurement and concept<br/>definitions 488<br/>15.4.4 Component 4: Specify the new synthesis resulting from the<br/>research 488<br/>15.4.5 Component 5: Define explanatory coherence of the synthesis<br/>to make a scientific inference 493<br/>15.5 Discussion 494<br/>15.6 Further reading 496<br/>16 Criticisms and improvements for the scientific<br/>the method in ecology 497<br/>Summary 497<br/>16.1 Introduction 497<br/>16.2 Criticisms of ecological research 499<br/>16.2.1 There has been lack of progress in ecology 499<br/>16.2.2 No general theory has emerged 500<br/>16.2.3 Ecological concepts are inadequate 503<br/>16.2.4 Ecologists fail to test their theories 505<br/>16.3 Suggestions made for improving ecological research 506<br/>16.3.1 Suitable research objectives for ecology 507<br/>16.3.2 Forms of reasoning that should be used 511<br/>16.3.3 The relation between concepts and theories 511<br/>16.4 Ideals and strategy of Progressive Synthesis 514<br/>16.5 Further reading 518<br/>Appendix: Suggestions for instructors 521<br/>References 525<br/>Glossary 541<br/>Author index 555<br/>Subject index<br/><br/> |
| 650 ## - SUBJECT ADDED ENTRY--TOPICAL TERM | |
| Topical term or geographic name entry element | 1. Ecological Research - Methodology2. Ecology - Research - Methodology |
| 700 ## - ADDED ENTRY--PERSONAL NAME | |
| Personal name | |
| -- | |
| 942 ## - ADDED ENTRY ELEMENTS (KOHA) | |
| Source of classification or shelving scheme | Dewey Decimal Classification |
| Koha item type | BOOKs |
| Withdrawn status | Lost status | Damaged status | Not for loan | Home library | Current library | Shelving location | Date acquired | Cost, normal purchase price | Total Checkouts | Full call number | Barcode | Date last seen | Price effective from | Koha item type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Law School | National Law School | 30.05.2017 | 995.00 | 344.046 FOR | 15651 | 30.05.2017 | 30.05.2017 | BOOKs |
Powered by Koha. Supported by focuzinfotech