User: | Open Learning Faculty Member:
The collection of my initial data for my research project did prove to be a little challenging and I quickly realized some of the mistakes that I made. I was using a point count sample method in my location to count bird presence with ambient temperature as the predictor variable. However the sampling area was too large and therefore not the most effective way to sample. I used a grassed backyard area around 24 feet x 30 feet as the location which proved to be too confusing as I didn’t know whether to include birds on the fence. Also with birds flying in and through the area I wasn’t sure if I was double counting them. Therefore sometimes I counted them and sometimes I didn’t as I wasn’t sure if I had already. It was difficult to know whether the birds I was counting were ones that had already been counted. In hindsight I should have used a bird feeder on one of the trees and counted bird activity at the feeder.
Secondly, I also realized that my hypothesis was not detailed enough. My focus initially was hypothesizing that bird activity would be increased with warmer spring temperatures above 12.5 degrees C but I should have used a temperature range of 10 – 15 degrees C to hypothesize that temperatures outside of these ranges would have decreased bird activity because I needed to include temperatures both above and below the range as bird activity may be diminished in extreme temperatures on either end. I also should have done my testing in the morning when temperatures were cooler but due to time constraints I tested in the afternoon when temperatures were warmer and therefore I mostly had temperatures above my hypothesis. In hindsight I should have tested early in the morning when the temperatures weren’t as hot.
The results that surprised me were that the bird activity was strongest on the coolest day. I had hypothesized that birds prefer warmer weather but in fact based on the initial results they seem to prefer cooler weather.
When I test again, I plan to adjust my point count method by using the bird feeder. This will make it easier to count the birds, eliminate confusion and I feel it will be a more effective method. I also plan to conduct the research in the morning when temperatures will be cooler and slightly more variable (before the temperatures are at the height of the day). This will ensure I get enough days both above, below and within the range of my hypothesis. I also need to clarify my hypothesis before I complete the research project as it is too vague and doesn’t account for hot weather.
