Question

Explain the importance of random sampling and collecting a large sample size when conducting ecological field work.

Answer 1

Ecological field work basically involves dealing with the ecosystems of our interest directly so as to get appropriate knowledge and probably some new findings of that ecosystem, so to do this field work is required.

Following are the points which explain the importance of random sampling and collecting a large sample size when conducting a ecological field work :-

i) Considering the hugh diversity of the ecological system if we collect less sample it might give inaccurate conclusions because the variation in the ecological system is very high and to capture that variation large samples are required.

ii) If not done randomly then the conclusion might be very biased because of the non-randomness that is the sample would have just the biased entries but the conclusion would be given for the whole population which will lead to inconsistent conclusions.

iii) For example if we want to conclude about the type of trees in a large dense forest and we take a biased sample from just 1 area of the forest, based on that one area we would make the conclusion for whole forest which might be wrong.

iv) Continuing the same example if i sample only 5-10 trees out of thousands of trees there in the forest the sample won't be a good representative for the population and give inconsistent conclusions.

v) Because of the hugh variation in the ecological field work we need both randomness and high sample size to arrive at a conclusion.