geographical methods (2. how to collect primary data)

Question 1

what are questionnaire surveys

Answer 1

an investigation on the opinions and attitudes of people or organisations based on a series of questions
used to collect quantitative data (data that can be quantified and measured)

Question 2

what are predefined responses in a questionnaire survey

Answer 2

short phrases, or a single word arranged in a series or numbers

Question 3

advantages of closed ended questions

Answer 3

• the predefined responses guides participants, making it easier for them to answer
• researchers may find predefined responses easier to analyse and interpret since they are put into fixed categories

Question 4

likert scale

Answer 4

presents a range of responses anchored by 2 extreme opposing positions
can have predefined responses based on a scale of agreement (agree/ disagree) or quality (excellent/ extremely poor)

Question 5

frequency scale

Answer 5

presents a range of responses based on the number of occurrences
responses spaced at equal intervals ‘<25%, 25% - 50%, 51% - 75% and >75%’
responses can also be worded in order according to time periods, like ‘daily, weekly, monthly or annually’

Question 6

ranking scale

Answer 6

used to get respondents to compare items
it should have less than 10 items if it is to produce reliable data
when large scales are used, survey participants would not have strong opinions about items ranked in the middle

Question 7

what can mental maps be used for

Answer 7

to capture personal insights that impact our lives (insights that play a key role in understanding the dynamic human- environment inter-relationships)

Question 8

mental maps provides a lens into:

Answer 8

-how people experience space
-how people think visually and spatially about their environment
- the dynamic inter-relationships people have with their environment

Question 9

What are mental maps used for in research?

Answer 9

Mental maps can be used to collect primary data on people’s mental constructs or processes in how they think spatially about places.

Question 10

What do participants do when creating mental maps?

Answer 10

Participants are given blank papers and asked to draw features in map form, including what they know, believe, and/or feel about a place or places.

Question 11

What is a base map?

Answer 11

A base map is a layer with geographic information that serves as a background, consisting of simplified lines demarcating landmarks or routes.
Participants can annotate or label their perceptions on this base map.

Question 12

What kind of instructions might participants receive for creating mental maps?

Answer 12

Participants may be provided with different base maps, instructions, and even tools to create their mental maps.
The specifics depend on the research question or hypothesis.

Question 13

True or False: Mental maps only focus on geographic data.

Answer 13

False

They also encompass people’s perceptions and feelings about places.

Question 14

Fill in the blank: Mental maps help reveal people’s _______ about their environment.

Answer 14

[perceptions]

This includes their beliefs and feelings regarding specific places.

Question 15

why are free form mental maps good

Answer 15

they are more repress of participants geographical imagination of places compared to the use of labelled base maps

Question 16

disadvantages of using free form mental maps

Answer 16

they are not easily georefrenced hence not easily mapped onto Geographical Information Systems

Question 17

when should semi structured interviews with open ended questions be conducted

Answer 17

after they have drawn their mental maps to find out more about participants knowledge, perceptions, preferences and behaviours

Question 18

what does the data collected from semi structured interviews do

Answer 18

they allow researchers to use data collected from these interviews to understand better the features and labels drawn on the mental maps by different participants

Question 19

what is a pedestrian/ vehicular/ traffic count

Answer 19

a systematic method used to measure and record the number of people or vehicles passing a specific point within a given time frame

Question 20

what is the aim of pedestrian/ vehicular/ traffic counts

Answer 20

the data helps to understand movement patterns, peak usage time and overall traffic flow

Question 21

pedestrian counts

Answer 21

often involves counting individuals entering or exiting a location such as a park or shopping area

Question 22

vehicular or traffic count

Answer 22

typically track the number and types of vehicles providing insights into road usage and congestion levels

Question 23

steps involved in pedestrian/ vehicular/ traffic counts

Answer 23

1. students should position themselves at key locations around the park, such as entrances, exits, and any commonly used pathways
2. each student should take on a specific task to ensure smooth coordination
3. combine the tallies from all entry and exit points to determine the total number of visitors

Question 24

why should students position themselves at key locations of a place

Answer 24

this ensures that all movements in and out of the area are captured accurately

Question 25

what are the various tasks students can take on when conducting a traffic count to ensure smooth coordination

Answer 25

counter, timekeeper and recorder

Question 26

what does a counter do

Answer 26

count the number of people entering or exiting a place. this can be done with a pocket tally counter for easier or a traditional tally method using pen and paper

Question 27

what does a timekeeper do

Answer 27

manage the duration of the count by using a stopwatch. the investigation should be conducted within a predetermined time frame (eg 15 minutes)

Question 28

what does the recorder do

Answer 28

document observations, such as unusual patterns, peak entry points, environmental conditions, special events or unusually high/low activities during the count

Question 29

what are some conditions to bear in mind when doing a pedestrian/ traffic count

Answer 29

choice of location timing and duration weather conditions safety measures

Question 30

choice of locations

Answer 30

- conduct count at strategic points (eg entrances or exits of the site) to prevent double counting and ensures more accurate data collection - select areas that provide clear visibility of pedestrians or vehicles (eg open spaces) which allow better observation and reduce chances of missed data -avoid overcrowded or highly confined areas where movement is hard to track accurately

Question 31

timing and duration

Answer 31

-standardised time of day, start time and end time to maintain consistency -avoid counting count during one-off events (eg concerts/festivals) which cause unusual spike in visitors -use a fixed duration for count to ensure all observers start simultaneous

Question 32

weather conditions

Answer 32

- consider impact of weather (eg, rainy days may reduce number of visitors in open areas like parks) - choose locations with both sheltered and open spaces to account for potential weather changes

Question 33

safety measures

Answer 33

-each student conducting the count should not stand too close to moving vehicles or busy roads - work is small groups to enhance safety, especially is areas with high vehicular traffic - choose observation points that are safe and accessible (eg sidewalks or designated observation zones)

Question 34

why are predefined responses good for quantitative data

Answer 34

they can help examine patterns and trends and is a straightforward method to collect non numerical information