Data Preparation

Metadata:

This week we will review the eBird Metadata (“data about data”). For more information about metadata visit this link: https://www.opendatasoft.com/blog/2016/08/25/what-is-metadata-and-why-is-it-important-data

And then download and/or review the eBird Manual eBird_Basic_Dataset_Metadata_v1.10.pdf.

Take a look at the manual to understand their coding system. You will develop YOUR OWN system for your data and record your coding system as metadata in your journal field notebook. Do not just copy the eBird metadata as it is to complex, keep it simple and if you have a coding system for your observations, make sure to document them.

After you have a working knowledge of metadata you can review the eBird spreadsheet Data.xlsx
of the data collected from citizen scientists like you. You can download the spreadsheet or use the google sheet on the class Google Drive here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1vUeHMtQ7T6G0A040LuIT7GTtZn2BZjrS (Links to an external site.)

You then can begin to assemble your own spreadsheet or table of the data you have documented with the metadata you have designed using the eBird format as a guide and the sample document as an example.

Take the perspective that you are someone who has never seen the data. A good test would be to have a friend or family member look at your data and be able to fully interpret what it is and what is says. If they can not understand your system, its needs work.

Upload your spreadsheet or a screenshot of your working data sheet with the metadata so that I can interpret your data. Over the next couple weeks you will finalize your hypothesis and generate one or more figures.

Be sure to review Lab 4 to correctly classify the type of data you will be compiling.

Note: (I already upload the Lab 4 data for your information. Please let me know if you want any profile to help you fisnish this assignment).