Design and Analysis of Resource Selection Studies for Categorical Resource Variables

Design and analysis of resource selection studies, where resources, such as habitats, are categorical have been commonly used for the past four decades. These methods have been evaluated, criticized, modified, and extended in the wildlife and statistical science literature. In this paper, we review some of the history of resource selection studies and place these studies in the context of wildlife science. Several variations of resource studies are presented along with historical data sets to illustrate the type of data obtained from some study designs. Common methods of analysis are introduced and compared in the terms of appropriate application to data from the various study designs, underlying assumptions, and hypotheses being tested. Criticisms of several of the methods of analysis are reviewed along with fundamental concerns about resource selection studies from the recent literature. Implications for analysis and interpretation of results are presented along with suggestions for future development. Resource selection studies can provide useful management information but only if the design is sound, analysis is appropriate, and much care is taken in the interpretation of results.