[Babase] Demography notes

Jeanne Altmann babase@www.eco.princeton.edu
Thu, 28 Apr 2005 09:05:51 -0400


When a male is missing from a group being censused, the field team often 
has a statement (in the demography notes section of the field notebook) in 
continuous present tense that is difficult to interpret.  For example,
in the demography notes section of Omo's Group notebook on a census day,

'Liberty is not in Omo's Group.  He is in Viola's Group.'

Does this mean that he was sighted in Viola's Group that day?  If so, then 
we should try to get the field workers to write exactly 
that.  Alternatively, if that apparently ambiguous note is in the Other 
Groups (OGN) section of the notebook, then one is confident that the 
continuous present statement (or past tense statement, as we request in the 
monitoring guide) does represent a observation for that day.

We can usually make reasonable guesses about meaning and many times 
guessing isn't even needed, but doing so takes more time and does have more 
margin for error than ideal or than should be necessary if we can get a 
small change in the field.

Susan, I'm copying this to you individually in case that helps you put it 
on your list to do with the field team when you get to Amboseli.