IA Methodologies

Internal Assessment Criteria: 30 PTS

ESS IA Components

Investigations may consist of appropriate qualitative work or quantitative work. In some cases these are descriptive approaches and may involve the collection of considerable qualitative data or secondary data from OPVL sources. In others, establishing cause and effect through inferential statistical analysis (a scientific approach) may be used.

Methodologies:

• Values and attitude surveys or questionnaires

• Interviews

• Issues-based inquiries to inform decision-making

• Observational fieldwork (natural experiments)

• Field manipulation experiments

• Ecosystem modelling (including mesocosms or bottle experiments)

• Laboratory work

• Models of sustainability

• Use of systems diagrams or other valid holistic modelling approaches

• Elements of environmental impact assessments (EIS)

• Secondary demographic, development and environmental data

• Collection of both qualitative and quantitative data

Analytical Techniques:

• Estimations of NPP/GPP or NSP/GSP

• Application of descriptive statistics (measures of spread and average)

• Application of inferential statistics (testing of null hypotheses)

• Other complex calculations (Predator-prey mathematical relationships)

• Cartographic analysis

• Use of spreadsheets or databases

• Detailed calculations of footprints (including ecological, carbon, water footprints)