The Empirical Cycle

Course manual 2017/2018

Course content

This is a survey course which shows a variety of quantitative analysis techniques, as applied in current geo-ecological research, in the context of the empirical research cycle.

First the course offers a theoretical framework to keep an overview of different types of research questions, activities, and tools that are typically seen in the earth sciences and ecology. Subsequently, four case studies from ongoing research provide more detailed insight in the coupling between steps like formalizing prior knowledge, formulation of questions, exploratory data analysis, experimental design and data collection, conceptual and quantitative model specification, model evaluation, simplification, generalization and application.

Study materials

Syllabus

Practical training material

Objectives

At the end of the course, the student is able to

1. recognize and describe characteristic steps in the empirical research cycle as applied in earth science and ecology;
2. judge whether a given research question would require an inductive or deductive approach to be answered;
3. describe various ways by which quantitative analysis can be used to generate hypotheses or construct explanations in earth science and ecology;
4. judge at which step in the research cycle a given type of analysis would fit;
5. describe the relation between steps of conceptual model formulation, quantitative model specification, computational implementation, model evaluation and model application;
6. assess whether an analysis technique would be compatible with a given data set;
7. assess whether a given data set would be suitable for answering a research question;
8. list strengths and weaknesses of ABMs, continuum-based and static network-models for integrating system knowledge, testing theories and generating new hypothesis.

Teaching methods

• Lecture
• Computer lab session/practical training
• Presentation/symposium
• Self-study
• Supervision/feedback meeting

Learning activities

Attendance

The programme does not have requirements concerning attendance (OER-B).

Additional requirements for this course:

Participation in all activities is mandatory – students cannot be absent during more than one group activity.

Assessment

Fraud and plagiarism

The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl

Course structure

Timetable

The schedule for this course is published on DataNose.

Additional information

The syllabus and study-material will be available via Blackboard.

Contact information

Coordinator

• dr. ir. E.E. van Loon