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<h1> Module Documentation: eml-methods</h1>
</td><td><a class="navlink" href="index.html">Back to EML Contents</a></td>
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<h3>
The eml-methods module - Methodological information for resources
</h3>
<p>
The eml-methods module describes the methods
followed in the creation of the dataset, including description of
field, laboratory and processing steps, sampling methods and units,
quality control procedures. The eml-methods module is used
to describe the actual
procedures that are used in the creation or the subsequent
processing of a dataset. Likewise, eml-methods is used to describe
processes that have been used to define / improve the quality of a
data file, or to identify potential problems with the data file.
Note that the eml-protocol module is intended to be used to document
a prescribed procedure, whereas the eml-method
module is used to describe procedures that were actually
performed. The distinction is that the use of the term
"protocol" is used in the "prescriptive" sense,
and the term "method" is used in the
"descriptive" sense. This distinction allows managers to
build a protocol library of well-known, established protocols
(procedures), but also document what procedure was truly performed
in relation to the established protocol. The method may have
diverged from the protocol purposefully, or perhaps incidentally,
but the procedural lineage is still preserved and understandable.
</p>
<h2>Module details</h2>
<table border="0" class="tabledefault" id="eml-methods">
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel"> Recommended Usage: </td><td class="tablepanel">All datasets</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel"> Stand-alone: </td><td class="tablepanel">no</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel"> Imports: </td><td class="tablepanel">eml-documentation, eml-dataset, eml-resource, eml-software, eml-protocol, eml-party, eml-text, eml-coverage, eml-literature</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel"> Imported By: </td><td class="tablepanel"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel"> View an image of the schema: </td><td class="tablepanel"><a href="eml-methods.png" target="offline">eml-methods image</a></td>
</tr>
</table>
<table class="tabledefault" border="0">
<tr>
<td colspan="2">
<h2>Element Definitions:</h2>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablehead" colspan="1"><a class="sitelink" name="methods"></a>
<h4>methods </h4>
</td><td class="tablehead" colspan="1">This element has no default value.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="40%" class="tablepanel"> Content of this field: </td><td class="tablepanel"> Description of this field: </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel">
<table class="tabledefault" border="0">
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel" valign="top"><span class="boldtext">Type: </span><a class="sitelink" href="#MethodsType">MethodsType</a></td>
</tr>
</table>
</td><td valign="top" class="tablepanel" colspan="1">
<blockquote></blockquote>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablehead" colspan="1"><a class="sitelink" name="methodStep"></a>
<h4>methodStep </h4>
</td><td class="tablehead" colspan="1">This element has no default value.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="40%" class="tablepanel"> Content of this field: </td><td class="tablepanel"> Description of this field: </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel">
<table class="tabledefault" border="0">
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel" valign="top"><span class="boldtext"> Elements: </span></td><td class="tablepanel" valign="top"><span class="boldtext"> Use: </span></td><td class="tablepanel" valign="top"><span class="boldtext"> How many: </span></td>
</tr>
<p>
<span class="boldtext">Derived from: </span><a class="sitelink" href="#ProcedureStepType">ProcedureStepType</a> (by xs:extension) </p>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel" colspan="3"> A sequence of (</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel"><a class="sitelink" href="#dataSource">dataSource</a></td><td class="tablepanel">optional</td><td class="tablepanel">unbounded</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel" colspan="3">)</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td><td valign="top" class="tablepanel" colspan="1">
<blockquote>The methodStep field allows for repeated sets of
elements that document a series of procedures followed to produce a
data object. These include text descriptions of the procedures,
relevant literature, software, instrumentation, source data and any
quality control measures taken.<br>
<span class="boldtext">Example(s): </span>
<br>Please see the examples for the
sub-fields.<br>
</blockquote>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablehead" colspan="1"><a class="sitelink" name="dataSource"></a>
<h4>dataSource </h4>
</td><td class="tablehead" colspan="1">This element has no default value.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="40%" class="tablepanel"> Content of this field: </td><td class="tablepanel"> Description of this field: </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel">
<table class="tabledefault" border="0">
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel" valign="top"><span class="boldtext">Type: </span><a class="sitelink" href="eml-dataset.html#DatasetType">ds:DatasetType</a></td>
</tr>
</table>
</td><td valign="top" class="tablepanel" colspan="1">
<blockquote>A source of data used by this methodStep.
</blockquote>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablehead" colspan="1"><a class="sitelink" name="sampling"></a>
<h4>sampling </h4>
</td><td class="tablehead" colspan="1">This element has no default value.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="40%" class="tablepanel"> Content of this field: </td><td class="tablepanel"> Description of this field: </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel">
<table class="tabledefault" border="0">
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel" valign="top"><span class="boldtext"> Elements: </span></td><td class="tablepanel" valign="top"><span class="boldtext"> Use: </span></td><td class="tablepanel" valign="top"><span class="boldtext"> How many: </span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel" colspan="3"> A sequence of (</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel"><a class="sitelink" href="#studyExtent">studyExtent</a></td><td class="tablepanel">required</td><td class="tablepanel"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel"><a class="sitelink" href="#samplingDescription">samplingDescription</a></td><td class="tablepanel">required</td><td class="tablepanel"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel"><a class="sitelink" href="#spatialSamplingUnits">spatialSamplingUnits</a></td><td class="tablepanel">optional</td><td class="tablepanel"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel"><a class="sitelink" href="#citation">citation</a></td><td class="tablepanel">optional</td><td class="tablepanel">unbounded</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel" colspan="3">)</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td><td valign="top" class="tablepanel" colspan="1">
<blockquote>Description of sampling procedures including the
geographic, temporal and taxonomic coverage of the
study. See individual elements for more detailed
descriptions.</blockquote>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablehead" colspan="1"><a class="sitelink" name="studyExtent"></a>
<h4>studyExtent </h4>
</td><td class="tablehead" colspan="1">This element has no default value.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="40%" class="tablepanel"> Content of this field: </td><td class="tablepanel"> Description of this field: </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel">
<table class="tabledefault" border="0">
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel" valign="top"><span class="boldtext"> Elements: </span></td><td class="tablepanel" valign="top"><span class="boldtext"> Use: </span></td><td class="tablepanel" valign="top"><span class="boldtext"> How many: </span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel" colspan="3"> A choice of (</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel"><a class="sitelink" href="#coverage">coverage</a></td><td class="tablepanel">required</td><td class="tablepanel"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel" colspan="3"> OR </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel"><a class="sitelink" href="#description">description</a></td><td class="tablepanel">required</td><td class="tablepanel"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel" colspan="3">)</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td><td valign="top" class="tablepanel" colspan="1">
<blockquote>The field studyExtent represents both a
specific sampling area and the sampling frequency (temporal
boundaries, frequency of occurrence). The geographic
studyExtent is usually a surrogate (representative area of)
for the larger area documented in the "studyAreaDescription".
The studyExtent can be entered either in non-structured
textual form or using the structure of the coverage
element.</blockquote>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablehead" colspan="1"><a class="sitelink" name="coverage"></a>
<h4>coverage </h4>
</td><td class="tablehead" colspan="1">This element has no default value.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="40%" class="tablepanel"> Content of this field: </td><td class="tablepanel"> Description of this field: </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel">
<table class="tabledefault" border="0">
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel" valign="top"><span class="boldtext">Type: </span><a class="sitelink" href="eml-coverage.html#Coverage">cov:Coverage</a></td>
</tr>
</table>
</td><td valign="top" class="tablepanel" colspan="1">
<blockquote>The field studyExtent represents both a
specific sampling area and the sampling frequency (temporal
boundaries, frequency of occurrence). The geographic
studyExtent is usually a surrogate (representative area of)
for the larger area documented in the "studyAreaDescription".
The studyExtent can be entered either in non-structured
textual form or using the structure of the coverage
element. See eml-coverage for more
information.</blockquote>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablehead" colspan="1"><a class="sitelink" name="description"></a>
<h4>description </h4>
</td><td class="tablehead" colspan="1">This element has no default value.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="40%" class="tablepanel"> Content of this field: </td><td class="tablepanel"> Description of this field: </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel">
<table class="tabledefault" border="0">
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel" valign="top"><span class="boldtext">Type: </span><a class="sitelink" href="eml-text.html#TextType">txt:TextType</a></td>
</tr>
</table>
</td><td valign="top" class="tablepanel" colspan="1">
<blockquote>The coverage field allows for a
textual description of the specific sampling area, the
sampling frequency (temporal boundaries, frequency of
occurrence), and groups of living organisms sampled
(taxonomic coverage).<br>
<span class="boldtext">Example(s): </span>
<br>The study was conducted on the North
Platte River, starting 6 miles downstream and ending 9
miles downstream of the route 132 bridge in Evanston,
ND.<br>
</blockquote>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablehead" colspan="1"><a class="sitelink" name="samplingDescription"></a>
<h4>samplingDescription </h4>
</td><td class="tablehead" colspan="1">This element has no default value.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="40%" class="tablepanel"> Content of this field: </td><td class="tablepanel"> Description of this field: </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel">
<table class="tabledefault" border="0">
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel" valign="top"><span class="boldtext">Type: </span><a class="sitelink" href="eml-text.html#TextType">txt:TextType</a></td>
</tr>
</table>
</td><td valign="top" class="tablepanel" colspan="1">
<blockquote>The samplingDescription field allows for a
text-based/human readable description of the sampling
procedures used in the research project. The content of this
element would be similar to a description of sampling
procedures found in the methods section of a journal
article.</blockquote>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablehead" colspan="1"><a class="sitelink" name="spatialSamplingUnits"></a>
<h4>spatialSamplingUnits </h4>
</td><td class="tablehead" colspan="1">This element has no default value.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="40%" class="tablepanel"> Content of this field: </td><td class="tablepanel"> Description of this field: </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel">
<table class="tabledefault" border="0">
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel" valign="top"><span class="boldtext"> Elements: </span></td><td class="tablepanel" valign="top"><span class="boldtext"> Use: </span></td><td class="tablepanel" valign="top"><span class="boldtext"> How many: </span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel" colspan="3"> A choice of (</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel"><a class="sitelink" href="#referencedEntityId">referencedEntityId</a></td><td class="tablepanel">required</td><td class="tablepanel"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel" colspan="3"> OR </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel"><a class="sitelink" href="#coverage">coverage</a></td><td class="tablepanel">required</td><td class="tablepanel"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel" colspan="3">)</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td><td valign="top" class="tablepanel" colspan="1">
<blockquote>A spatial sampling unit describes the
specific geographic areas sampled. In the case of a study in
which the measurements from several disbursed point
collection devices are aggregated, then the sampling unit
would be the area of that aggregation. Spatial sampling units
can either be described by filling out the structured
coverage element or by reference to the values in a data
table (usually a GIS layer)<br>
<span class="boldtext">Example(s): </span>
<br>If a researcher places a single light source at
a specific point in a research location in order to attract
insects to derive an estimate of the insect population, then
the sampling unit is the area illuminated by the light source
(in actual practice there might be multiple sampling units in
this case since different species have different attraction
rates).<br>The bounding box of a specific 3-meter square
plot.<br>The location of a weather station.<br>
</blockquote>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablehead" colspan="1"><a class="sitelink" name="referencedEntityId"></a>
<h4>referencedEntityId </h4>
</td><td class="tablehead" colspan="1">This element has no default value.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="40%" class="tablepanel"> Content of this field: </td><td class="tablepanel"> Description of this field: </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel">
<table class="tabledefault" border="0"></table>
</td><td valign="top" class="tablepanel" colspan="1">
<blockquote>A value of a referencedEntityId
element is a reference to the identifier of the entity
module that provides the metadata for a data table
(RDBMS, GIS or ascii text) that has the actual spatial
sampling unit values. The referencedEntityId field is
an indirect pointer to the actual values. The
referencedEntityId can be thought of as a foreign key
in a relational database.<br>
<span class="boldtext">Example(s): </span>
<br>x<br>
</blockquote>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablehead" colspan="1"><a class="sitelink" name="coverage"></a>
<h4>coverage </h4>
</td><td class="tablehead" colspan="1">This element has no default value.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="40%" class="tablepanel"> Content of this field: </td><td class="tablepanel"> Description of this field: </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel">
<table class="tabledefault" border="0">
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel" valign="top"><span class="boldtext">Type: </span><a class="sitelink" href="eml-coverage.html#GeographicCoverage">cov:GeographicCoverage</a></td>
</tr>
</table>
</td><td valign="top" class="tablepanel" colspan="1">
<blockquote>Structured description of each sampling
unit location</blockquote>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablehead" colspan="1"><a class="sitelink" name="citation"></a>
<h4>citation </h4>
</td><td class="tablehead" colspan="1">This element has no default value.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="40%" class="tablepanel"> Content of this field: </td><td class="tablepanel"> Description of this field: </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel">
<table class="tabledefault" border="0">
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel" valign="top"><span class="boldtext">Type: </span><a class="sitelink" href="eml-literature.html#CitationType">cit:CitationType</a></td>
</tr>
</table>
</td><td valign="top" class="tablepanel" colspan="1">
<blockquote>The citation field allows to either reference
a literature resource or enter structured literature
information</blockquote>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablehead" colspan="1"><a class="sitelink" name="qualityControl"></a>
<h4>qualityControl </h4>
</td><td class="tablehead" colspan="1">This element has no default value.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="40%" class="tablepanel"> Content of this field: </td><td class="tablepanel"> Description of this field: </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel">
<table class="tabledefault" border="0">
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel" valign="top"><span class="boldtext">Type: </span><a class="sitelink" href="#ProcedureStepType">ProcedureStepType</a></td>
</tr>
</table>
</td><td valign="top" class="tablepanel" colspan="1">
<blockquote>The qualityControl field provides a location for
the description of actions taken to either control or assess the
quality of data resulting from the associated method step. A
quality control description should identify a quality goal and
describe prescriptive steps taken to ensure that the data meet
those standards and/or postscriptive steps taken to assess the
extent to which they are met. A quality control statement is
associated with the methodStep that could have affected the
targeted quality goal.</blockquote>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablehead" colspan="1"><a class="sitelink" name="description"></a>
<h4>description </h4>
</td><td class="tablehead" colspan="1">This element has no default value.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="40%" class="tablepanel"> Content of this field: </td><td class="tablepanel"> Description of this field: </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel">
<table class="tabledefault" border="0">
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel" valign="top"><span class="boldtext">Type: </span><a class="sitelink" href="eml-text.html#TextType">txt:TextType</a></td>
</tr>
</table>
</td><td valign="top" class="tablepanel" colspan="1">
<blockquote>The description field allows for repeated text
that describes the methodology for a project, experiment, or
particular data table or to describe the steps taken to control
or assure the quality of the data. Likewise, a literature
citation may be provided that describes the methodology that was
employed. Or the information my be provided by either referencing
a protocol resource or entering the structured protocol
information<br>
<span class="boldtext">Example(s): </span>
<br>1.Collect tissues from algae of
interest. a. We are currently
collecting Egregia menziezii, Mazzaella splendens, M. flaccida,
Hedophyllum sessile, Postelsia palmaeformis and Fucus gardneri.We
stopped collecting Neorhodomela larix and Odonthalia floccosa
because they can be heavily fouled and we feared that would skew
the results. b. We collect a 7-10 cm
blade or branch from each plant. For Egregia, try to sample
small, young plants or take the base of the blade. For Postelsia,
take a few of the blades. The other plants are small enough so a
whole blade can be taken.<br>
</blockquote>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablehead" colspan="1"><a class="sitelink" name="citation"></a>
<h4>citation </h4>
</td><td class="tablehead" colspan="1">This element has no default value.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="40%" class="tablepanel"> Content of this field: </td><td class="tablepanel"> Description of this field: </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel">
<table class="tabledefault" border="0">
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel" valign="top"><span class="boldtext">Type: </span><a class="sitelink" href="eml-literature.html#CitationType">cit:CitationType</a></td>
</tr>
</table>
</td><td valign="top" class="tablepanel" colspan="1">
<blockquote>The citation field allows to either reference a
literature resource or enter structured literature
information</blockquote>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablehead" colspan="1"><a class="sitelink" name="protocol"></a>
<h4>protocol </h4>
</td><td class="tablehead" colspan="1">This element has no default value.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="40%" class="tablepanel"> Content of this field: </td><td class="tablepanel"> Description of this field: </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel">
<table class="tabledefault" border="0">
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel" valign="top"><span class="boldtext">Type: </span><a class="sitelink" href="eml-protocol.html#ProtocolType">pro:ProtocolType</a></td>
</tr>
</table>
</td><td valign="top" class="tablepanel" colspan="1">
<blockquote>The protocol field is used to either reference a
protocol resource or describe methods and identify the processes
that have been used to define / improve the quality of a data
file, also used to identify potential problems with the data
file.</blockquote>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablehead" colspan="1"><a class="sitelink" name="instrumentation"></a>
<h4>instrumentation </h4>
</td><td class="tablehead" colspan="1">This element has no default value.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="40%" class="tablepanel"> Content of this field: </td><td class="tablepanel"> Description of this field: </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel">
<table class="tabledefault" border="0">
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel" valign="top"><span class="boldtext">Type: </span><a class="sitelink" href="eml-resource.html#NonEmptyStringType">res:NonEmptyStringType</a></td>
</tr>
</table>
</td><td valign="top" class="tablepanel" colspan="1">
<blockquote>The Instrumentation field allows the description
of any instruments used in the data collection or quality control
and quality assurance. The description should include vendor, model
number, optional equipment, etc.<br>
<span class="boldtext">Example(s): </span>
<br>LACHAT analyzer, model XYX.<br>
</blockquote>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablehead" colspan="1"><a class="sitelink" name="software"></a>
<h4>software </h4>
</td><td class="tablehead" colspan="1">This element has no default value.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="40%" class="tablepanel"> Content of this field: </td><td class="tablepanel"> Description of this field: </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel">
<table class="tabledefault" border="0">
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel" valign="top"><span class="boldtext">Type: </span><a class="sitelink" href="eml-software.html#SoftwareType">sw:SoftwareType</a></td>
</tr>
</table>
</td><td valign="top" class="tablepanel" colspan="1">
<blockquote>The software element allows reference to any
software used to process data.</blockquote>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablehead" colspan="1"><a class="sitelink" name="subStep"></a>
<h4>subStep </h4>
</td><td class="tablehead" colspan="1">This element has no default value.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="40%" class="tablepanel"> Content of this field: </td><td class="tablepanel"> Description of this field: </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel">
<table class="tabledefault" border="0">
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel" valign="top"><span class="boldtext">Type: </span><a class="sitelink" href="#ProcedureStepType">ProcedureStepType</a></td>
</tr>
</table>
</td><td valign="top" class="tablepanel" colspan="1">
<blockquote>This fields allows the nesting of additional method
steps within this step. This is useful for hierarchical method
descriptions.</blockquote>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2">
<h2>Complex Type Definitions:</h2>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablehead" colspan="1"><a class="sitelink" name="MethodsType"></a>
<h4>MethodsType </h4>
</td><td class="tablehead" colspan="1">
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="40%" class="tablepanel"> Content of this field: </td><td class="tablepanel"> Description of this field: </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel">
<table class="tabledefault" border="0">
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel" valign="top"><span class="boldtext"> Elements: </span></td><td class="tablepanel" valign="top"><span class="boldtext"> Use: </span></td><td class="tablepanel" valign="top"><span class="boldtext"> How many: </span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel" colspan="3"> A sequence of (</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel"><a class="sitelink" href="#methodStep">methodStep</a></td><td class="tablepanel">required</td><td class="tablepanel">unbounded</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel"><a class="sitelink" href="#sampling">sampling</a></td><td class="tablepanel">optional</td><td class="tablepanel"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel"><a class="sitelink" href="#qualityControl">qualityControl</a></td><td class="tablepanel">optional</td><td class="tablepanel">unbounded</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel" colspan="3">)</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablehead" colspan="1"><a class="sitelink" name="ProcedureStepType"></a>
<h4>ProcedureStepType </h4>
</td><td class="tablehead" colspan="1">
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="40%" class="tablepanel"> Content of this field: </td><td class="tablepanel"> Description of this field: </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel">
<table class="tabledefault" border="0">
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel" valign="top"><span class="boldtext"> Elements: </span></td><td class="tablepanel" valign="top"><span class="boldtext"> Use: </span></td><td class="tablepanel" valign="top"><span class="boldtext"> How many: </span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel" colspan="3"> A sequence of (</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel" colspan="3"> A sequence of (</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel"><a class="sitelink" href="#description">description</a></td><td class="tablepanel">required</td><td class="tablepanel"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel" colspan="3"> A choice of (</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel"><a class="sitelink" href="#citation">citation</a></td><td class="tablepanel">required</td><td class="tablepanel"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel" colspan="3"> OR </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel"><a class="sitelink" href="#protocol">protocol</a></td><td class="tablepanel">required</td><td class="tablepanel"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel" colspan="3">)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel" colspan="3">)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel"><a class="sitelink" href="#instrumentation">instrumentation</a></td><td class="tablepanel">optional</td><td class="tablepanel">unbounded</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel"><a class="sitelink" href="#software">software</a></td><td class="tablepanel">optional</td><td class="tablepanel">unbounded</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel"><a class="sitelink" href="#subStep">subStep</a></td><td class="tablepanel">optional</td><td class="tablepanel">unbounded</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="tablepanel" colspan="3">)</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p class="contact"> Web Contact: <a href="mailto:jones@nceas.ucsb.edu">jones@nceas.ucsb.edu</a>
</p>
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