ASC Research Methods & Evidence-Based Practice 3

Question 1

What does 'publication bias' mean in the context of avalanche research?

Accepted Answer

Studies with positive or significant findings are more likely to be published than null results

Answer

Publication bias skews the overall body of literature toward positive findings, potentially overstating the effectiveness of safety interventions.

Question 2

A 'p-value' below 0.05 in an avalanche study most commonly indicates:

Accepted Answer

There is less than a 5% probability the observed result occurred by chance alone

Answer

A p-value < 0.05 is the conventional threshold indicating the result is statistically unlikely to be due to random chance.

Question 3

Which snow science research technique uses buried sensors to continuously monitor temperature gradients within the snowpack?

Accepted Answer

Thermistor strings or temperature logger arrays

Answer

Thermistor strings or data logger arrays record continuous temperature at multiple snowpack depths, revealing gradient changes that drive faceting and weak layer formation.

Question 4

When applying evidence-based decision-making in the field, the '3 × 3 filter' is used to:

Accepted Answer

Systematically evaluate terrain, snowpack, and weather factors across three scales of consideration

Answer

The 3×3 filter examines conditions at regional, local, and slope scales across terrain, snowpack, and weather, providing a structured framework for risk assessment.

Question 5

In accident causation research, 'human factors' are implicated in what approximate proportion of avalanche accidents?

Accepted Answer

More than 90%

Answer

Research consistently shows human factors — such as poor route selection, group dynamics, and heuristic traps — are implicated in more than 90% of avalanche accidents.

(ASC) Avalanche Safety Certification Practice Test

(ASC) Avalanche Safety Certification Practice Test

ASC Research Methods & Evidence-Based Practice 3