Category Archives: Basics

Analytical Software

Posted on March 10, 2010 by Andy Farke

As the past two posts have attested, we are on the cusp of doing some actual, real-life analysis. If at all possible, I want to run the analyses using freely available, open source software. Fortunately, all of the major software … Continue reading →

Posted in Basics, Miscellaneous | 10 Comments

The Analyses Ahead

Posted on February 23, 2010 by Andy Farke

As we finish up combining the data, it’s time to start thinking about the specific analyses that we’re going to do. What are the specific questions we’re asking? What are the techniques that we need to address the questions? Some … Continue reading →

Posted in Basics, Miscellaneous, To-Do List | 52 Comments

Beware the Shifting Catalog Number

Posted on February 12, 2010 by Andy Farke

Those who have contributed to the ODP over the last few months know that a single specimen might have measurements featured in 2, 3, 4, or more separate scientific papers. In order to keep data entry and verification as transparent … Continue reading →

Posted in Basics, Key Concepts | 4 Comments

Don’t Despair! Using Our Data to Investigate Disparity

Posted on December 16, 2009 by Andy Farke

Note: This is a guest post from paleontologist and ODP contributor Randy Irmis, of the Utah Museum of Natural History. As our fearless project leaders have stressed many times, we’re not just gathering this mountain of data for fun – … Continue reading →

Posted in Basics | 9 Comments

Developing a measurement protocol, part 1

Posted on September 16, 2009 by Mike Taylor

By now, those of you who have been entering data from the literature — and maybe even more those who have been measuring bones themselves — will have noticed that it’s not quite as straightforward as it sounds.  Some bones … Continue reading →

Posted in Basics, Tutorials | 13 Comments

Introducing the Open Dinosaur Project

Posted on September 8, 2009 by Mike Taylor

Hello, and thanks for dropping by at the Open Dinosaur Project.  This blog is part of a wider project, in which we hope — with your help — to make some science.  We want to put together a paper on … Continue reading →

Posted in Basics | 15 Comments