amazon.co.ukFieldwork and Data Collection
A-Level Geography revision: Fieldwork and Data Collection. Learning objectives, key points, worked examples and practice questions across AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC and CCEA.
📌 Key Points
Key Fact: Enquiry: hypothesis (testable), sub-questions, risk assessment, ethical considerations (consent, privacy)
Key Fact: Sampling: random (unbiased), systematic (interval), stratified (proportional subgroups), opportunistic (pragmatic)
Key Fact: Primary: questionnaires, EQ surveys, sediment analysis, velocity, infiltration; Secondary: OS maps, census, Met Office, academic papers
Key Fact: Presentation: proportional circles, choropleth, scatter with trend line, rose diagrams, cross-sections
Key Fact: Stats: Spearman's (correlation, ordinal), Chi-squared (categorical association), Mann-Whitney (difference, ordinal)
Key Fact: Evaluation: limitations (sample size, bias, equipment), reliability (repeatable), validity (measures what intended)
🎯 Learning Objectives
- Design geographical enquiries: hypothesis, aims, risk assessment, ethics
- Select appropriate sampling: random, systematic, stratified, opportunistic
- Collect primary data (surveys, measurements, observations) and secondary data (GIS, census, reports)
- Present data: graphs (bar, line, scatter, choropleth), maps, annotated photos, cross-sections
- Analyse: statistical tests (Spearman's, chi-squared, Mann-Whitney), qualitative coding
- Conclude and evaluate: limitations, reliability, validity, improvements
💡 Worked Example
Exam-Style Question
Question: Design a hypothesis and sampling strategy to investigate how footpath erosion varies with distance from a car park in a national park
Model Answer:
Hypothesis: Footpath erosion decreases with distance from car park due to visitor pressure decay. Systematic sampling: measure path width, depth, vegetation cover every 50m along 1km transect. Risk: weather, terrain. Ethics: minimise disturbance
❓ Practice Questions
Questions:
- Write a hypothesis for river velocity vs distance downstream
- Choose sampling for urban land use survey
- Select graph for population vs distance from CBD
- Explain when to use Spearman's vs Chi-squared
- Identify limitations of a given fieldwork method
🎬 Video Resources
- Fieldwork and Data Collection - Overview -- YouTube Search
- Fieldwork and Data Collection - Exam Questions -- YouTube Search
📄 Past Papers & Exam Resources
🔗 Further Reading & Resources
- Physics & Maths Tutor - Fieldwork and Data Collection -- Free notes, worksheets, and past paper questions by topic
- Dr Frost Maths - Fieldwork and Data Collection -- Free resources, slides, and interactive questions
- BBC Bitesize - Fieldwork and Data Collection -- BBC Bitesize revision resources
📚 Lesson Plan (50 minutes)
- Starter (5 min): Recall prior knowledge of fieldwork and data collection with quick questions.
- Teaching (15 min): Work through each of the learning objectives, explaining principles step by step.
- Key points review (5 min): Revisit the key points together, confirming understanding.
- Worked example (10 min): Model the example question: Design a hypothesis and sampling strategy to investigate how footpath erosion varies with distance from a car park in a national park. Solution: Hypothesis: Footpath erosion decreases with distance from car park due to visitor pressure decay. Systematic sampling: measure path width, depth, vegetation cover every 50m along 1km transect. Risk: weather, terrain. Ethics: minimise disturbance
- Practice (10 min): Students attempt the practice questions independently; circulate and support.
- Plenary (5 min): Review answers and address misconceptions.
🏠 Homework
- Write a hypothesis for river velocity vs distance downstream
- Choose sampling for urban land use survey
- Select graph for population vs distance from CBD
- Explain when to use Spearman's vs Chi-squared
- Identify limitations of a given fieldwork method
🧾 Assessment
Check practice answers against the model answer; use the built-in practice questions as formative assessment.