Rebuttal of Roper (2020) Critique of Larson et al. (2019)

Abstract

Roper (2020) conducted a critique of the Larson et al. (2019) study of the accuracy and confidence of data collected using systematic and random sampling designs. Roper (2020) did not provide a data set but speculated that the Larson et al. (2019) conclusions likely reflected differences in the number of plants evaluated at each plot and the low number of independent observers rather than the sample design. Our random sampling design employed multiple randomly located quadrat locations and measured multiple plants (> 5) that were averaged within the plot to represent plot characteristics. Data collected in this fashion fulfilled assumptions intrinsic to and necessary for statistical analysis using plot data as observations. Thus, the statistical observations reported in the original paper are valid. © 2020 The Society for Range Management