Confidence

[Arthur Chapman]

Robert Chehey poses the problem:
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One of our largest clients has asked that we develop a
method of quantifying our confidencein our determinations.
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This is an interesting problem and one that I have been
thinking about for some time.  I have also chased up a
number of places that are attemtping to give a rating to
a taxonomic identification.

It was once suggested to me that we should give all taxonomists
a rating from 1-10.  BUT:
. was the taxonomist at the start or end of his/her career?
. was the identification done at the beginning of a revision
        or the end?
. was the taxonomist an expert in that group?
. was the identification carried out at 9am or 5pm?
. was the taxonomists relaxed or stressed at the time?
. was the taxonomists confident about the identification, etc.

I have found that one part of the Kansas University Museum
has developed a system as has the Geneva Botanic Gardens. In
addition there are Alejandro Pelaez's suggestions

>From those, my suggestion would be something along the lines of
(it needs some refining):

6 - World expert in the group - confident in the determination
5 - Regional expert in the group - confident in the determination
  - World expert in the group - reasonably confident in the
        determination
4 - Local expert in the group - confident in the determination
  - Regional expert in the group - reasonably confident in the
        determination
  - World expert in the group - not very confident in the
        determination
3 - taxonomist - non expert in group confident of the determination
  - Local expert in the group - reasonably confident in the
        determination
  - Regional expert in the group - not very confident in the
        determination
  - World expert in the group - uncertain in the determination
2 - student confident of the determination
  - taxonomist - non expert in group reasonably confident of the
        determination
  - Local expert in the group - not very confident in the
        determination
  - Regional expert in the group - uncertain in the determination
1 - student reasonably confident of the determination
  - taxonomist - non expert in group not very confident of the
        determination
  - Local expert in the group - uncertain in the determination
0 - unknown

Of course there are a number of others that could be fitted in - e.g.
World expert in a related group with a reasonable knowledge of this
group, etc.

It is also very subjective, but gives the identifyer some control over
how certain they are of their identification, etc.

Comments appreciated as I would like to add this field to a number of
databases.

regards

arthur

________________________________________________________________________________
Arthur D. Chapman  [Scientific Coordinator, Biogeographic Information, ERIN]

Environmental Resources Information Network     internet: arthur at erin.gov.au
GPO Box 787, Canberra,                             voice: +61-6-274 1066
ACT 2601, AUSTRALIA                                  fax: +61-6-274 1333