One idea for AGATE is to use technology to blend an action research approach with global collaboration. We want to intentionally blur the lines between formal controlled experiments and large scale observational data. By providing, pooling, and sharing data we can decide how we as individuals move forward. Sharing experiences and outcomes are able to provide much broader observations and under much more varied local conditions (materials, resource levels, climate) than any one individual would be able to obtain directly by themselves even over a lifetime. This type of data collection is possible only with broadly available low cost communication and data collection tools, namely smartphones. Big data statisticians are also welcome to tackle, digest, and report discoveries on larger scales using the data we provide. Academicians, NGO’s, and entrepreneurs can use these data to describe trends that are of interest to them. The benefit to individuals providing data is the access to other’s experiences and the exposure to ideas over extraordinary temporal and spatial scales. A low (or no) cost hurdle is necessary for broad acceptance and AGATE can provide an information hub for this ongoing social experiment.
Formal statistical research frameworks (contributors, universities, NGO’s, for-profit companies)
| flow is both up and down |
Actionable research topics
Are the right questions being framed for data interpretation?
Are consumers accepting or asking different questions?
Consumers can provide topics for consideration; shared data can be used by research frameworks to answer relevant questions.
| flow is both up and down |
Data consumer and practitioner level information (contributors, individual learners, researchers)
Pooled individual experiences provide more realistic data at a high spatial resolution and based on true micro-environmental conditions than coarse models and generalizations. This improves practitioners on the ground and also provides opportunities for re-framing experimental data analyses as well as development of new relevant research topics.
