Recording and communicating uncertainty in science: how geologists manage variability in spatial data
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View abstract on PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.Geologists’ tolerance for data variability influences what observations become data. Despite this, scientists can accurately infer information even from highly variable geological data.
Area Of Science
- Geosciences
- Data Science
- Scientific Methodology
Background
- Scientific inference relies on managing data variability.
- In observational geology, variability influences data recording and publication decisions.
- High variability may lead to observations being disregarded.
Purpose Of The Study
- Assess how data variability affects geologists' decisions to record and publish observations.
- Investigate geologists' ability to make inferences from variable data.
- Examine the impact of variability levels on inference accuracy.
Main Methods
- Conducted three experiments with 97 geologists.
- Presented geologists with geological data on planar feature orientation with manipulated variability.
- Assessed willingness to record/publish data and accuracy of orientation estimates.
Main Results
- Significant individual differences in variability tolerance were observed.
- High-criterion geologists were less likely to record/publish variable data.
- Low-criterion geologists were more willing to record/publish variable data.
- Geologists accurately estimated orientations from variable data, irrespective of variability level.
Conclusions
- Geologists' criteria for data variability impact data recording and publication.
- Scientists may avoid publishing variable data even when accurate inferences are possible.
- Understanding variability tolerance is crucial for data sharing and scientific progress.
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