Agency Reports (within & joint)

1. Lecture 06 TECHNICAL COMMUNICATONS Spring 2014 - Althoff Agency Reports(within & joint)

2. Agency Reports - Basics • _____________ on length of report • Often ‘single’ column • Format _____________…more variable than peer-reviewed formats…mainly because so many agencies, so many “traditions”, so many “upgrades” always competing. Change in administrators and change in ‘need’ help account for such variability in format • Type of data doesn’t have to be “________” as often is the case with peer-reviewed publications a) can be same type of data reported for another agency (state, region, etc.) b) can be annual in nature

3. Agency Reports - Basics • Often there are “disclaimers” and “warnings” _________________ We “ain’t” ready to stand by any of this just yet… more analysis to come, more interpretation time is needed …or this is just the start of the data collection and we won’t stake our reputation on it yet…nor base any management decision solely on this report. ____________________ Use of these data and/or citing of this information without the “express written consent” of the agency is blah-blah-blah.

4. Agency Reports – Basics…con’t • Typical to include LITERATURE CITED section but references listed not restricted to “peer-reviewed publications” a) within-agency reports often cited (last year’s report, year before that report, etc.) b) memos sometimes referenced

5. i.e., Gray Literature • “Gray” because it has not been through the filtering process of “______________” review by the scientific community. In other words, no one outside the agency has clearly been asked to judge the merits of the following prior to publication/ release/completion of the report: a) methods (including soundness of field protocols, data integrity) b) interpretation/conclusions

6. Gray Literature…con’t • ________________ automatically mean the work is suspect—in fact, it is often good. However, the conciseness and/or thoroughness of the writing (________) and analysis and interpretation of the data (__________) can be and should be taken with the proverbial “______________” • Also, inclusion of gray literature starts to self-perpetuate itself…and often does end up in the “black-and-white” (i.e, peer-reviewed) literature.

7. Agency Reports – Basics…con’t • ___________________ are common • Appendices often contain raw data • Appendices often include the data forms used in the field and/or the survey forms used (i.e., creel survey, opinion surveys, etc.)—extremely helpful for the “next guy”

8. Covers - First Page • Variable • Some all “words” • Often contain agency logo • Often acknowledge as special project and/or source of funding

10. Major Sections • Many times, major headings match those of a journal article • METHODS one of 2 basic varieties: a) very detailed b) very skimpy (“see last year’s report) • Data “treatment” one of 2 basic varieties a) just summary (no statistical treatment) b) mix of summary & statistical treatment • RESULTS and DISCUSSION sections often do not give “full treatment” of existing peer-review literature.

11. Some “__________” Format Items • In general, “anything” goes • Bullets “ok” • Numbering of “points” (see bat report for Pennsylvania Game Commission) ex. 1. weigths 2. heights 3. girths vs. 1) weigths, 2) heights, and 3) girths…. • Vertical lines in tables (easy to drop in from EXCEL file…

12. Bottomline…. • These types of reports are important (write up your field/lab work….regardless how “small” or “insignificant” you perceive it to be). • These types of reports serve as a ‘diary’ in many cases….and the ___________ one writes them up the more accurate the methods section and ‘recollection’ of details observed in the field that might apply to data interpretation • There should be ‘________’ documentation considering the amount of resources (equipment, travel, personnel, etc.) you and others put into collecting the data.