Planning
Planning
Basic considerations when preparing for productive and safe field work.
Learning Objective: Develop clear field work procedures that include safety and specific location information.
Field work is the term used for research outside of the laboratory or library. This means leaving the controlled and convenient lab setting for the unpredictable complexity of nature.
In the field, new variables can be found, and hypotheses can be tested in real-world conditions.
Let’s start with an overview of field work considerations.
Watch this video; you can select the closed captioning “cc” option if you would like to see the text.
Field Work
Effective planning includes:
- Selection of locations that provide information (data) on research organisms
- Minimal cost in fuel and equipment wear and tear
- A schedule of tasks to be completed
- A materials list, including necessary field kits
- Safety considerations specific to the location
In planning for this course, we selected locations with a combination of animals in their natural habitats and captive animals in zoos, safaris, and rehabilitation centers.
You will be studying animals on location
Start thinking about where you can find animals, large or small, close to the location(s) you will be in during this course. These locations can be indoors and outdoors. A variety of locations and animals may provide better data, but are not required. Further information on site selection will be provided in the next module.
The next section has specifics on assembling a field kit for course work.
Check your knowledge – Planning
Review your notes. Do you understand the basics of planning for field work? If so, move forward to the next page.
Learning Objective:
Develop clear field work procedures that include safety and specific location information.
Go back to the Field Work Guide Overview
Go forward to the Field Kit Page
Field Work Contents
Complete all five of these sections before taking the quiz and making your media piece.
Module Index
Links to 10 Modules
This Module
1: Where do I go?
Products Information
1C: Quiz & Media
