General Geographical Fieldwork Enquiry

Question 1

What happens at the planning stage of a fieldwork enquiry?

Answer 1

Identify location and come up with enquiry questions and/or hypothesis

Question 2

After the planning stage of the enquiry process there is the… what do you do in this stage?

Answer 2

Methodology - Where you select methods to collect data, qualitative and quantitative, primary/secondary, Sampling size and methods

Question 3

What do you do in the data presentation stage of fieldwork enquiry?

Answer 3

Decide on how you are going to present the primary and secondary data that you have collected

Question 4

What happens in the analysis stage of the fieldwork enquiry?

Answer 4

You are explaining your results using Overall, Data, Difference. (ODD)

Question 5

What happens in the conclusion stage of fieldwork enquiry?

Answer 5

You answer your enquiry questions and/or say whether your hypothesis was correct or incorrect. You link back to your data again in this section.

Question 6

What do you do in the evaluation stage of fieldwork enquiry?

Answer 6

You discuss the advantages, disadvantages and improvements about your fieldwork. You would do this by firstly looking at your methods and how you collected the data. Secondly you would consider the advantages, disadvantages and improvements to your data presentation. Finally, you would evaluate your overall project and the usefulness of it in answering the question/hypothesis.

Question 7

Why do you need to think about your sample size carefully?

Answer 7

To avoid bias and to ensure you have enough data to get reliable results.

Question 8

What is primary data?

Answer 8

Data you have collected yourself.

Question 9

What is secondary data?

Answer 9

Data that someone else has collected and has made it available.

Question 10

What is random sampling? What is a major advantage of it?

Answer 10

Selecting a person to interview or site to measure, at random. Random sampling is unbiased as particular people or places are not specifically selected.
You don’t introduce Bias.

Question 11

What is systematic sampling?

Answer 11

Collecting data in an ordered or regular way, eg every 5 metres or every fifth person.

Question 12

What is stratified sampling?

Answer 12

Dividing sampling into groups, eg three sites from each section of coastline, or five people from each age range.

Question 13

It is possible to combine stratified sampling with random or systematic sampling what are these called? (summarise them)

Answer 13

stratified random sampling - random samples are taken from within certain categories
stratified systematic sampling - regular samples are taken from within certain categories

Question 14

Explain the three types of spatial sampling?

Answer 14

Point sampling - Choosing particular points and sampling at these points only.
Line sampling- taking measurements along a line known as a transect.
Quadrat sampling - Making a square on the ground and noting down what is in the square.

Question 15

When using a systematic sampling strategy is it important to keep the points you are collecting your data from equally spaced out. Yes or no

Answer 15

Yes

Question 16

What are the strengths of systematic sampling?

Answer 16

Quick, easy and convenient because you have a system to follow.
Accurately reflects changes in variables across space because of regular intervals.
Provides representative data of what is happening at the time.

Question 17

What are the weaknesses of systematic sampling?

Answer 17

Need to ensure every car etc is counted to make it accurate this can be challenging
Access to some areas can be difficult if your point is somewhere you cannot get to e.g buildings.
Can be biased because you may select intervals to stop outside certain areas to collect the data.

Question 18

To be able to identify good geographical enquiry question if you are looking at a particular location what 6 questions should you be asking yourself. What are they?

Answer 18

What is the landscape like?
What are the features that stand out?
Where is this place - Grid reference/latitude etc?
What is the area like around it?
Why is it like it is?
What is happening to certain variables?

Question 19

From asking geographical questions you should be able to form a hypothesis what is a hypothesis?

Answer 19

Is a statement that can be tested it allows you to focus your fieldwork on a specific thing

Question 20

For this enquiry question ‘ How do channel characteristics vary along a river?’ give 4 potential hypotheses you could ask from this enquiry question

Answer 20

The velocity of the river increases as it moves from the source to the mouth
The width of the river increases as it moves from the source to the mouth
The depth of the river increases as it moves from its source to the mouth
The gradient of the river increases as it moves from its source to the mouth

Question 21

For this enquiry question ‘ How do channel characteristics vary along a river?’ give 4 potential questions you could ask from this enquiry question.

Answer 21

How does the velocity of the river change as it moves from its source to its mouth?
How does the width of the river change as it moves from its source to its mouth?
How does the depth of the river channel change as it moves from its source to its mouth?
How does the gradient of the river channel change as it moves from its source to its mouth?

Question 22

What is opportunistic sampling?

Answer 22

When the person collecting the information makes a decision about how the sample will be collected while out in the field.