ENV 250 Module Three Homework

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Southern New Hampshire University *

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250

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Biology

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Jan 9, 2024

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ENV 250 Module Three Homework Instructions : In this assignment, you will describe the difference between quantitative and qualitative data and determine what type of methods are most appropriate for a given research topic. For each problem below, please address the prompt and explain your reasoning. 1. Special dyes have been developed that only bind to DNA. The intensity of the color is directly related to the quantity of DNA present in the cell. A haploid cell would have a “low” amount of color, a cell in G1 would have a “medium” amount of color, and a cell in M phase would have a “high” amount of color. Is this sort of assessment quantitative, qualitative or semi-quantitative? Justify your reasoning. This assessment is qualitative. This is because they are assessing the amount of color in a cell to determine which phase it is in. They are not using numerical data but are rather using subjective data. This is an example of a qualitative assessment. 2. The amount of chlorophyll in a pond sample is directly related to the amount of algae in the water. The more algae present in the pond, the more chlorophyll will be in the sample (i.e., the sample will be greener). The pond sample can be treated and run through a spectrophotometer to determine the exact amount of chlorophyll in the sample. The spectrophotometer reads the absorbance (which is based on color) and compares it to values established with a standard curve. Is this sort of assessment quantitative, qualitative, or semi-quantitative? Justify your reasoning. This assessment is semi-quantitative. This is because the way they determine the amount of chlorophyll in a sample is through comparing it to an already established scale. If the spectrophotometer was just reporting the amount of chlorophyll in the sample through numerical data, then this assessment would be quantitative. However, they are comparing the data to an already established scale and although the data is expressed numerically, it is categorical. 3. Dr. Brown has hypothesized that wetland plants will take up common pollutants from municipal wastewater that are not completely removed during the treatment process. The wastewater is typically discharged directly into a creek. She constructs a wetland just downstream of the treatment plant and pumps a portion of the discharge water through the wetland. After moving through the wetland, the water will eventually make it to the creek. Dr. Brown measures the concentration of three common pollutants in the wastewater before it enters the wetland and again at the end of the wetland prior to discharge into the creek. Are Dr. Brown’s methods quantitative, qualitative, or semi-quantitative? Justify your reasoning. Dr. Brown’s methods are quantitative. This is because Dr. Brown is taking numerical data both before and after the wastewater enters the creek. There is no subjective or categorical data being used therefore, this is a quantitative assessment. 4. Martin has hypothesized that the size and types of trees differ between valleys and higher elevations. He sets up a transect line in a wooded valley and randomly creates three 10 x 10 meter plots along the transect line, recording GPS coordinates for the northwest corner of each plot. He identifies and
measures (diameter at breast height) every tree within the plots. He repeats this procedure in a wooded area on the ridge above the valley. Are Martin’s methods for identifying and measuring trees quantitative, qualitative, or semi-quantitative? Justify your reasoning. Martin’s methods are quantitative. This is because he is using numerical data when measuring the trees and noting the GPS coordinates. The data is not subjective or categorical and is therefore a quantitative assessment. 5. Jesse is working with the local electric company to identify a location for a new wind farm. The site has to have wind on a regular basis, be within 50 miles of existing infrastructure, be outside of any bird migration corridors, and be supported by the local population. Specifically state what type of data Jesse needs to collect to meet the electric company’s criteria (one for each criterion), then state whether the data would be quantitative, qualitative, or semi-quantitative. Justify your reasoning. For Jesse’s data, the criteria are: Having wind on a regular basis- This criterion is qualitative; it is subjective data. This is because my definition of having wind on a regular basis could be different from someone else’s definition of having wind on a regular basis. The data would not be numerical and is therefore a qualitative assessment. Be within 50 miles of existing infrastructure- This criterion is quantitative; it is numerical data. It is not subjective or categorical to assess whether a wind farm would be within 50 miles of existing infrastructure. It is numerical data and is therefore a quantitative assessment. Be outside of any bird migration corridors - This criterion is qualitative; it is subjective data. Jesse would not have to take numerical data to see if the potential wind farm would be outside of a bird migration corridor and is therefore a qualitative assessment. Be supported by the local population- This criterion is semi-quantitative. This is because Jesse would have to take down numerical data on the percentage of people who support the wind farm and the percentage of people who do not. It is semi-quantitative because the data would be categorical and would be compared to the amount of people in favor and the amount of people who disapprove of the project.
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