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## Project overview {.unnumbered} 

### Working title {.unnumbered}
*(This can change later)*

_Insert a concise, descriptive working title._

---

### Research question {.unnumbered}

_State your primary question/hypothesis in 1-3 sentences, in plain language._
_Avoid methods or results language here._

---

### Study system and units of analysis {.unnumbered}

- **Study system / context:**  
  _Brief description of the biological, ecological, or applied system._

- **Unit of analysis:**  
  _What does a single row represent conceptually? (e.g., individual, site-day, plot-year, detection event, etc.)_

---

## Data description {.unnumbered}

### Data source {.unnumbered}

- Where do the data come from? _awesome field work, online database, etc._  
- Are they observational, experimental, or simulated?  
- Are you the original data collector?

---

### Response variable(s) {.unnumbered}

List your primary response variable(s):

- Variable name (as it appears in the data):  
- What it represents conceptually:  
- Measurement scale / type (count, binary, continuous, proportion, etc.):  
- Units (if applicable):

---

### Predictor variable(s) {.unnumbered}

List your main predictors (draft list is fine):

- Predictor name(s):  
- Conceptual meaning of predictors:  
- Expected direction of effect (if any):  
- Why it matters for your question:

---

## Hypotheses and expectations {.unnumbered}

_Briefly describe the relationships you expect to see._  
_Bullets are fine. Directional expectations are helpful but not required._

---

## Planned analytical approach (tentative) {.unnumbered}

### Candidate model family {.unnumbered}

_What type of model do you currently think is appropriate, and why?_  
_(GLM, GLMM, GAM, GAMM, etc. — this is a hypothesis, not a commitment.)_

---

### Data structure considerations {.unnumbered}

Note anything you already suspect may matter:

- Non-independence (grouping, repeated measures, hierarchy)
- Temporal structure (do you have lots of temporal data?)
- Spatial structure (did you take lots of spatial coordinate data?)
- Zero-inflation, natural data boundaries (e.g. percentage cover)
- Unequal sampling effort (e.g. sites sampled between 1 and 140 times)

---

## Workflow and reproducibility plan {.unnumbered}

### File organization {.unnumbered}

_Briefly describe how you plan to organize your project files._

- Project root name: _where you can find your files_
- Data folder(s):
- Script folder(s):
- Output / figures folder(s):

---

### AI use (planned) {.unnumbered}

_If you anticipate using AI tools, describe how (e.g., troubleshooting, clarification, workflow advice, link to AI Interaction Log)._  
_Do not include prompts or outputs here._

---

## Anticipated challenges {.unnumbered}

_What do you already think might be difficult or limiting?_  
_Examples: missing data, unclear metadata, low sample size, confounding, measurement error._

---

## What success looks like at this stage {.unnumbered}

_In 2-4 sentences, describe what you would consider a successful outcome for this project by the end of the semester._

---

## Notes for Patrick (optional) {.unnumbered}

_Anything you want feedback on specifically? Scope, feasibility, model choice, data limitations, etc._

---

## JackalopeGPT Pre-Submission Evaluation (Required) {.unnumbered}

_Paste your complete Evaluation Table from JackalopeGPT here. Please include as many as you wish, but only the final Evaluation Table is required._

---

## Self-check rubric (complete before submitting) {.unnumbered}

Before submitting, read each item and confirm that your Analysis Concept Note meets the standards below.

### Clarity and scope
- [] My research question is understandable to a classmate outside my subfield  
- [] The scope is appropriate for one semester (not overly ambitious)  
- [] I can clearly describe what one observation (row) represents  

### Data readiness (conceptual)
- [] I know where the data come from and what they represent  
- [] I can name my response variable(s) and explain what they measure  
- [] I can explain why each main predictor is included  

### Analytical thinking
- [] My tentative model choice is motivated by the data structure, not habit  
- [] I have considered non-independence, temporal, or spatial structure where relevant  
- [] I have identified at least one plausible complication or limitation  

### Workflow and reproducibility
- [] I have a clear plan for organizing files and scripts  
- [] omeone else could understand my project structure from my description  
- [] My planned AI use aligns with course expectations  

### Overall check
- [] his document reflects *my current thinking*, not a polished final plan  
- [] Uncertainty and open questions are stated honestly  
- [] I am ready to receive feedback and revise my approach  
- []  have completed the JackalopeGPT pre-submission evaluation and pasted the output above

