title: The analysis of contact sampling data.
abstract: Use of the chi-square statistic for investigating interspecific association has been incorrectly applied to the contact sampling method because of an invalid probability argument. The usual method of calculating expected frequencies leads to a large overestimation and hence bias towards negative association. A correct method of analysis is presented and discussed.
authors.affiliation: Computing Centre, University of British Columbia, V6T. 1W5, Vancouver, B.C., Canada.
authors.forename: Piet
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: de Jong
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, V6T 2B1, Vancouver, B.C., Canada.
authors.forename: Lonnie W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Aarssen
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, V6T 2B1, Vancouver, B.C., Canada.
authors.forename: Roy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Turkington