No Surprises? The Reliability and Validity of Test Pit Sampling

1986 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 457-483 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jack D. Nance ◽  
Bruce F. Ball
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Clustering ◽  
Reliability And Validity ◽  
Archaeological Sites ◽  
Regional Survey ◽  
Archaeological Materials ◽  
Probabilistic Survey ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Logistic Regressions ◽  
Survey Designs ◽  
Reduced Surface

In attempts to implement probabilistic survey designs in areas of reduced surface visibility, archaeologists have turned to shovel testing or Test Pit Sampling (TPS). Characteristically TPS involves excavation of small, systematically spaced test pits within larger survey units as a method of searching for archaeological materials that would otherwise go undiscovered. While TPS has been the subject of considerable study most studies have been theoretical in nature. As a result, while the characteristics of TPS are understood generally, it is not known how well the method functions in known archaeological contexts. This article describes the results of research directed at estimating the reliability and validity of the test pit method when carried out on known archaeological sites under varying conditions of artifact density and spatial clustering. Split-half correlations and logistic regressions show that TPS is reliable in the sense that it produces replicable results, but is biased against discovery of small, low-density sites, especially when these sites exhibit high degrees of spatial clustering of artifacts. A model relating TPS to regional survey in general is presented and a means of estimating potential biases of the method is illustrated.

scholarly journals Archaeology of Semirechye at the End of the 19th Century (Based on the Materials of the Expedition Led by Ch.-E. Ujfalvy)

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (7) ◽  
pp. 44-51
Author(s):  
Alisa Yu. Borisenko
Keyword(s):  
Central Asia ◽  
Aral Sea ◽  
Archaeological Sites ◽  
The North ◽  
Archaeological Materials ◽  
French Author ◽  
The Subject ◽  
The 19Th Century ◽  
Illustrative Material ◽  
Archaeological Objects

Purpose. This article analyzes the archaeological materials gathered by French explorer of Hungarian descent Charles-Eugène Ujfalvy in the course of his expedition into Semirechye (Jetysu). In 1879 his work “French scientific expedition to Russia, Siberia and Turkestan” (“Expédition scientifique française en Russe, en Sibérie et dans le Turkestan”) was published in Paris, where the author expounded extensive and diverse materials on the history, demography, natural economic and cultural specificities of Central Asia. Results. Activities of the European explorers, French in particular, in the territory of Central Asia not once have been the subject of attention and research by specialists. However, only a few mentions in scientific literature can be found about the work of Ch.-E. Ujfalvy in the territory of Jetysu. They are particularly small in number and contain either mentions about the fact of that journey or general descriptions of the expedition. Analysis of archaeological materials gathered by scientists has not been carried out before. The expeditionary route passed through territories that the French author called the Russian Turkestan, by limiting it to Semey in the north, Zarafshan in the south, Fergana Valley in the east and Aral Sea in the west. Ch.-E. Ujfalvy was one of those whose work was distinguished by a great variety and volume of collected material on the history, geography, and traditional culture of the peoples living in the studied territories. Conclusion. Ch.-E. Ujfalvy’s monograph includes not only texts, but also illustrative material. He also outlined the archaeological sites and findings among the landscaping and natural attractions described by the explorer. He has covered some of them in text and some are simply sketched and attached as illustrations to the monograph. The scientist highlights several types of archaeological objects. The article provides a data review about archaeological antiquities of the Jetysu region, gathered by Ch.-E. Ujfalvy in the course of his expedition.

scholarly journals Predicting wildfire impacts on the prehistoric archaeological record of the Jemez Mountains, New Mexico, USA

Fire Ecology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan M. Friggens ◽  
Rachel A. Loehman ◽  
Connie I. Constan ◽  
Rebekah R. Kneifel
Keyword(s):  
New Mexico ◽  
Fire Severity ◽  
Fire Effects ◽  
Burn Severity ◽  
Fire Season ◽  
Archaeological Sites ◽  
Archaeological Record ◽  
Human Environment ◽  
Jemez Mountains ◽  
Archaeological Materials

Abstract Background Wildfires of uncharacteristic severity, a consequence of climate changes and accumulated fuels, can cause amplified or novel impacts to archaeological resources. The archaeological record includes physical features associated with human activity; these exist within ecological landscapes and provide a unique long-term perspective on human–environment interactions. The potential for fire-caused damage to archaeological materials is of major concern because these resources are irreplaceable and non-renewable, have social or religious significance for living peoples, and are protected by an extensive body of legislation. Although previous studies have modeled ecological burn severity as a function of environmental setting and climate, the fidelity of these variables as predictors of archaeological fire effects has not been evaluated. This study, focused on prehistoric archaeological sites in a fire-prone and archaeologically rich landscape in the Jemez Mountains of New Mexico, USA, identified the environmental and climate variables that best predict observed fire severity and fire effects to archaeological features and artifacts. Results Machine learning models (Random Forest) indicate that topography and variables related to pre-fire weather and fuel condition are important predictors of fire effects and severity at archaeological sites. Fire effects were more likely to be present when fire-season weather was warmer and drier than average and within sites located in sloped, treed settings. Topographic predictors were highly important for distinguishing unburned, moderate, and high site burn severity as classified in post-fire archaeological assessments. High-severity impacts were more likely at archaeological sites with southern orientation or on warmer, steeper, slopes with less accumulated surface moisture, likely associated with lower fuel moistures and high potential for spreading fire. Conclusions Models for predicting where and when fires may negatively affect the archaeological record can be used to prioritize fuel treatments, inform fire management plans, and guide post-fire rehabilitation efforts, thus aiding in cultural resource preservation.

THE RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY OF RUBRICS FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF MANUAL SKILLS IN THE SUBJECT PHYSIOTHERAPY OF NEUROLOGICAL PROCESSES

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Luz Sánchez-Sánchez ◽  
Maria Arantzazu Ruescas-Nicolau ◽  
Juan Jose Carrasco-Fernández ◽  
Natalia Cezón-Serrano ◽  
Clara Sastre-Arbona ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reliability And Validity ◽  
Manual Skills ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Neurological Processes

scholarly journals Environmental Education to Change the Consumption Model and Curb Climate Change

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (18) ◽  
pp. 7475
Author(s):  
Leticia-Concepción Velasco-Martínez ◽  
Juan-Jesús Martín-Jaime ◽  
Ligia-Isabel Estrada-Vidal ◽  
Juan-Carlos Tójar-Hurtado
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Environmental Education ◽  
Compulsory Education ◽  
Reliability And Validity ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Education Students ◽  
Responsible Consumption ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Consumption Model ◽  
Mitigate Climate Change

Environmental education plays a fundamental role in the fight against climate change and the transformation towards a more sustainable and environmentally friendly socio-economic model. This study shows how to evaluate the effectiveness of a program for compulsory education students in Spain. The subject of the program focused on the effects of climate change in relation to our consumption model and the generation of waste. A mixed research methodology is proposed that combines a quantitative (10 items on the Likert scale, n = 714) and qualitative approach (category construction and analysis on open-ended questions). A study of the reliability and validity of the measure was carried out through a categorical principal component analysis (CATPCA). The multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) correlates the gender and educational level of the students to the learning acquired in the program. For example, the results show how students are convinced that adopting minimal pro-environmental habits (turning off lights and unplugging electronics, choosing public transport to get around, or using solar and wind power to produce electricity) can help mitigate climate change. The conclusions show the difficulties and challenges of education for responsible consumption, emphasizing the development of environmental education programs for reducing the effects of climate change.

scholarly journals Potential of the Radiocarbon Method for Dating Known Historical Events: The Case of Yaroslavl, Russia

Radiocarbon ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 54 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 615-624
Author(s):  
A V Engovatova ◽  
G I Zaitseva ◽  
M V Dobrovolskaya ◽  
N D Burova
Keyword(s):  
Middle Ages ◽  
Archaeological Sites ◽  
Historical Events ◽  
Methodological Question ◽  
Archaeological Material ◽  
Central Russia ◽  
Archaeological Materials ◽  
Dating Method ◽  
Academy Of Sciences ◽  
The City

We address here the methodological question of potentially using the radiocarbon method for dating historical events. The archaeological investigations in Yaroslavl (central Russia) provide an example. The Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IARAS) has been conducting excavations at the site for many years, and many archaeological complexes dating to different times have come to light. The most interesting of these are connected with the founding of the city by Prince Yaroslav the Wise in AD 1010 (the first fortifications) and with the devastation of the city by the Tatar Mongols in 1238 (evidenced by sanitary mass burials of Yaroslavl's inhabitants). We have conducted a certain experiment, a “reverse” investigation of the chronology of the events. The dates of the events are known from chronicles, archaeological materials, and dendrochronological data for several assemblages. We have taken a large series of 14C samples from the same assemblages, dated them in 2 different laboratories, and compared the data. The accuracy of the 14C dates proved to be compatible with dates found via the archaeological material. The article shows the potential for 14C dating of archaeological assemblages connected with known historical events. The results of the research conducted by the authors serve as an additional argument for the broader use of the 14C dating method in studies of archaeological sites related to the Middle Ages in Russia.

The Reliability of the Psychiatric Anamnesis

1974 ◽  
Vol 124 (581) ◽  
pp. 357-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. R. Eastwood ◽  
H. E. Ross
Keyword(s):  
Psychiatric Disorder ◽  
Reliability And Validity ◽  
Personal History ◽  
History Taking ◽  
Diagnosis And Management ◽  
The Family ◽  
The Subject

The psychiatric anamnesis is a lengthy enquiry based on the Meyerian principle that most aspects of a patient's past and present history are relevant to the diagnosis and management of psychiatric disorder. Despite widespread use by both clinicians and research workers, the anamnesis has been the subject of few investigations regarding its reliability and validity. The studies reported have not encouraged confidence in traditional history taking (Haggard et al., 1960; Wenar and Coulter, 1962; Beckett et al., 1967). The present study was carried out to investigate the reliability of the family and personal history.

Ethics, the antiquities trade, and archaeology

1998 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 128-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Ede
Keyword(s):  
Historical Review ◽  
Black Market ◽  
Archaeological Sites ◽  
Legal Systems ◽  
Archaeological Materials ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Antiquities Trade ◽  
The Many

This article presents the perspective of a long-time dealer in ancient art and antiquities on the many attacks on the antiquities trade. After a brief historical review of collecting and the different national approaches to control of export of archaeological materials, the author presents an analysis of why the more draconian of the legal systems defeat their intended purposes and are themselves unethical in that they promote the destruction of archaeological sites and the black market in antiquities.

Bird Bones, Burials, and Bundles in Plains Archaeology

1975 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 444-452 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas H. Ubelaker ◽  
Waldo R. Wedel
Keyword(s):  
Missouri River ◽  
Archaeological Sites ◽  
Museum Collections ◽  
Archaeological Remains ◽  
Time Perspectives ◽  
Archaeological Materials ◽  
Plains Archaeology ◽  
Minor Portion ◽  
Important Time ◽  
Indian Medicine

Plains archaeologists have usually devoted little attention to the bird remains that normally comprise a relatively minor portion of the yield from their excavations. Bird bones from several archaeological sites on the Missouri River are shown to have been purposefully and selectively modified by man. They exhibit a remarkable similarity to prepared bird skins and other ceremonial objects found in Omaha, Osage, Arikara, and other Plains Indian medicine bundles in various museum collections. The ethnographic specimens are believed to identify the archaeological remains as to function; conversely, the archaeological materials add important time perspectives to native use of the ritual items in museum collections and in the documentary record.

scholarly journals Medical research and their ethical nature

2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 147-151
Author(s):  
I. V. Lantukh ◽  
N. F. Merkulova ◽  
V. M. Ostapenko
Keyword(s):  
Medical Research ◽  
Medical Knowledge ◽  
Scientific Progress ◽  
Reliability And Validity ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Public Control ◽  
Ethical Implications ◽  
Medical Experiments ◽  
Moral Qualities ◽  
The Subject

Annotation. The article examines the problem of medical researches, which is so relevant and necessary especially today, during the COVID-19 pandemic. It turns out that medical researches have an ethical nature, due to two interrelated aspects – the first aspect relates to professional medical practice, the second – to the patient's personality. Human medical research is based on the "rule of consent". This is necessary to protect the subject of medical research against various threats. The ethical implications of medical research stem from the need to comply with social requirements. The ratio of internal (professional) and external (public) control over medical research is both moral and social problems. Public control over medical research should be limited to such an extent as to leave room for the professional work of scientists. One aspect of this problem is related to the physical well-being of the subject of medical research: an adequate balance between risk and success is determined solely by the physician. The second aspect is related to the well-being of the person being studied as an individual and comes down to the question of who should determine this balance. Physicians attribute this right exclusively to themselves: only they can obtain the necessary information, without putting pressure on their patients. It is important to affirm the "principle of support" for medical research: the only one who can assess the human aspect of research is the subject himself. At first, the patient usually trusts his doctor, but later he must be able to decide how justified this trust was. The scientist-physician must realize that his future as a researcher depends not only on scientific but also moral qualities. On the other hand, fear of the sad consequences of the experiment should not be an obstacle to scientific progress. Important characteristics of the experiment are its reliability and validity. Therefore, medical experiments are an important tool for the development of medical knowledge about a person, about his health.

scholarly journals ASSESSING THE STUDENTS’ UNDERSTANDING RELATED TO MOLECULAR GEOMETRY USING A TWO-TIER DIAGNOSTIC TEST

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 839-855
Author(s):  
Melis Arzu Uyulgan ◽  
Nalan Akkuzu ◽  
Şenol Alpat
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Key Words ◽  
Diagnostic Test ◽  
Reliability And Validity ◽  
Molecular Geometry ◽  
Resonance Structure ◽  
The Subject ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Second Tier ◽  
Validity Tests

In this research, the comprehension levels and misconceptions of university students on the subject of molecular geometry were determined via a two-tier diagnostic test consisting of 25 items developed by researchers. It was applied on 110 university students. The reliability and validity tests and item analyses were conducted in relation to the test, and the difficulty and discrimination indices of the items were detected. The reliability coefficient of the test was found to be 0.856 while the mean difficulty value of the test was 0.487. According to the findings obtained from the second tier of the test containing open end questions, the students had a great deal of wrong information and numerous misconceptions in relation to the molecular geometry. Such statements as “atoms move in the resonance structure” and “bond angles of two molecules having a trigonal pyramidal shape cannot be different” are counted among the most important misconceptions determined in the study. Key words: Misconception, molecular geometry, two-tier diagnostic test, university students.

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