Human Gathering Techniques

Question 1

Random sampling

Answer 1

Provides equal probability of being chosen. At times it may not represent an entire population

Question 2

Stratified sampling

Answer 2

The population is first divided into groups. A Sample is then collected from each group randomly

Question 3

Systematic sampling

Answer 3

You measure your start and end point (transect) and then calculate consistent/equal distances to sample. (Usually divide by 10)

Question 4

EQS positives

Answer 4

• EQS can be taken along footpaths over a period of time to identify changes in human impact.
• may also highlight areas of the pathway that are visited regularly
• these could be combined with electronic footfall counters to quantify numbers (1mark) as the busier the place the lower the environmental quality (1)
• could be combined with an annotated photo to visually show the environmental quality.

Question 5

EQS negatives

Answer 5

• an EQS is very subjective and considers personal opinions (1). Instead a group could tallie an average of the scores to give a better representation (1)
• too large a scale allows for too much variation. A smaller scale allows for more consistent results and better representation

Question 6

Bi-polar & detailed bi-polar analysis

Answer 6

A survey where a chosen aspect is rated using polar opposite ratings (E.g. -5 to +5)

Question 7

Bi-polar & detailed bi-polar analysis
ADVANTAGES

Answer 7

• Very useful for concepts that have a bi-polar aspect.
• detailed bi-polar surveys are the only surveys where you can add comments, incorporating quantitative and qualitative data.
• using a bi-polar survey allows you to go back to compare changes over time.

Question 8

Bi-polar & detailed bi-polar analysis
DISADVANTAGES and solution

Answer 8

• they are very subjective as based on personal opinion
• instead, the survey researcher should calculate an average of the responses for better reliability.
• it can be difficult to condense emotions down to a number.

Question 9

Perception study

Answer 9

A perception study involves giving a survey to the public using a suitable sampling technique to gather opinions.

Question 10

Perception study advantages

Answer 10

• can be carried out over time which allows the researcher to go back and compare.
• it gathers more opinions rather than just the researchers which means the results can be more representative of a giver area
• they can now be distributed online so a greater audience can be reached and the results are easier to collate and present

Question 11

Perception study disadvantages

Answer 11

• can be difficult to condense emotions down to just a number
• usually use a scale from strongly disagree to strongly agree and it can be difficult for a person carrying out the study to differentiate between strongly agree and disagree
• Respondents may not feel comfortable giving answers that present themselves in an unfavourable way

Question 12

Interview

Answer 12

An interview can be conducted after a perception study in order to gain further insight into peoples views about an issue, project or development.

Question 13

Interview advantages

Answer 13

• can be more detailed and flexible than a questionnaire as it allows people to give more open responses, rather than being pigeon-holed by tick box answers.
• allow you to ask additional questions or explore points that have been made
• If you start with a few short, closed question, you’ll put your interviewee at ease and they may open up
• if given permission you can record interview which allows you to return to responses at a later date - this may help with how you represent gathered information

Question 14

Interview disadvantages

Answer 14

- can be difficult to arrange an interview 

• very time consuming, limiting response numbers
• much of the data gathered as qualitative data rather than quantitive data, therefore you can’t always statistically analyse findings
• interviewees may refuse to answer sensitive or controversial questions which limits data gathered.

Question 15

Questionnaires

Answer 15

Questionnaires are very common feature of investigations where the opinions of groups of people can be gathered.

They can obtain information about people themselves, patterns and processes or opinions. Many questionaries use a combination of all three

Question 16

Questionnaire advantages

Answer 16

• gathering primary data that cannot be sourced anywhere else
• beginning with personal questions you can compare responses
• can be used in conjunction with other primary or secondary data to strengthen a study
• Can now be distributed online so greater audience can be reached
• presentation of data is easy to collate and present

Question 17

Questionnaire disadvantages

Answer 17

• people may not be completely honest with their responses or give biased answers.
• if they’re open questions (written answer) people may choose to write nothing or give a very limited response
• carrying out face-to-face questionnaires can be time consuming and some people may choose not to partake
• questionnaire fatigue - People are fed up of being stopped on the streets

Question 18

Pedestrian flows

Answer 18

Pedestrian flow is where a researcher counts the amount of people in a particular area. (1)

You can either count in person (using tally marks) over a short period of time and calculate an average or you can use an outdoor people counters (OPC) which are electronic

Question 19

Pedestrian flows advantages

Answer 19

• OPC’s are constantly collecting data making them more accurate
• OPCs Will generate a far greater data set and will be collecting data over a greater period of time
• researchers can create multiple categories when collecting the data whereas OPC merely record a count
• An in person tally can be used in conjunction with a questionnaire or interview which gathers additional primary data

Question 20

Pedestrian flows disadvantages

Answer 20

• Field researchers will only collect data during sample periods making it less accurate
• OPC’s Can suffer technical faults whilst researchers can meet human errors so both do you have flaws
• OPC’s Can prove too expensive in the short term, particularly if volunteers can be found to collect data by hand

Question 21

Traffic survey 

Answer 21

Transport surveys can be a useful supporting technique to add to any urban study, it can show connectivity and accessibility to any given urban area

This is usually taken with a counter or tally chart, counting the number of vehicles over a period of time in a particular area

Question 22

Traffic survey advantages

Answer 22

• different routes to a particular destination could be compared or various routes into and out a settlement
• questionnaire information could also be incorporated by surveying the routes that people take and the reasons for their choice
• A noise meter may also be used to record decibel readings, that could be combined with an environmental quality survey

Question 23

Traffic survey disadvantages

Answer 23

• when collecting data, the average number of vehicles will be different at different times of the day
• Large-scale studies can be time consuming
• People may lose count, or traffic may be fast moving making results and inaccurate
• An electronic counter only calculates traffic and doesn’t categorise the types of traffic
• Data categorisation is subjective, averages have to be taken to make the data representative

Question 24

Land use mapping

Answer 24

Land use mapping allows you to investigate changes in the size, structure and function of settlements over time. You print an OS map of your choosing area then using a colour coded key, colour your map to classify the different land uses

Question 25

Land use mapping advantages

Answer 25

• can compare with historical maps to show changes over time
•  maps can be re-drawn or digitised using GIS packages to make presentation of data clearer
• Field sketches could also be drawn, to add information about the area that is not directly linked to building use

Question 26

Land-use mapping disadvantages

Answer 26

• can be very time-consuming
• May not be able to classify buildings from the outside and can lead to gaps in the collection
• thought should go into developing an appropriate land-use classification key, making data collection less objective, however a degree of subjectivity is inevitable
• obtaining historical maps can be difficult and costly meaning comparisons overtime may not be made
• Many maps are just street level view, and consideration needs to be made to the land uses on the second and third floors