1
Q
What is the purpose of fieldwork in Geography?
A
To collect primary data to investigate geographical questions and understand processes in real-world environments.
2
Q
What is primary data?
A
Data collected directly by the researcher in the field.
3
Q
What is secondary data?
A
Data collected by others (e.g., OS maps, websites, census data).
4
Q
What is a research question?
A
A focused question that guides the fieldwork investigation.
5
Q
What is a hypothesis?
A
A statement that can be tested using data (e.g., “Environmental quality decreases closer to the CBD”).
6
Q
What is sampling?
A
Selecting part of an area or population to collect data from.
7
Q
What is random sampling?
A
Sites or people chosen by chance.
8
Q
What is systematic sampling?
A
Collecting data at regular intervals (e.g., every 50m).
9
Q
What is stratified sampling?
A
Selecting samples based on groups or categories (e.g., land-use zones).
10
Q
What primary data is collected in coastal studies?
A
Beach profiles, sediment size, wave frequency, groyne measurements.
11
Q
What does a steeper beach profile indicate?
A
Stronger swash (constructive waves).
12
Q
What is a typical human fieldwork question?
A
“How does quality of life vary in different parts of the town/city?”
13
Q
What primary data is commonly collected in urban studies?
A
Environmental quality surveys (EQS), land use surveys, pedestrian counts, questionnaires.
14
Q
What is an Environmental Quality Survey (EQS)?
A
A scoring system to assess buildings, noise, litter, traffic, etc.
15
Q
Why use systematic sampling in a pedestrian count?
A
Ensures consistent timing and location; reduces bias.
16
Q
What ethical issues must be considered in human fieldwork?
A
Respect privacy, ensure consent for questionnaires, avoid photographing people without permission.
17
Q
What secondary data supports human studies?
A
Census data, Index of Multiple Deprivation, old maps, government statistics.
18
Q
Why use a bar graph?
A
To compare categories (e.g., EQS scores across sites).
19
Q
Why use a line graph?
A
Shows change over distance or time (e.g., river depth downstream).
20
Q
Why use a cross section?
A
To show the shape/gradient of a river or beach.
21
Q
Why use proportional symbols?
A
To show variation by size (e.g., pedestrian count).
22
Q
What does “identifying trends” mean?
A
Looking for patterns in the data (increase, decrease, variation).
23
Q
What does an anomaly mean?
A
A result that doesn’t fit the overall pattern.
24
Q
What is a conclusion?
A
A summary that answers the fieldwork question using evidence.
25
What does reliability mean in fieldwork?
Whether the data is consistent and repeatable.
26
What does accuracy mean?
How close measurements are to the true value.
27
What does validity mean?
Whether the methods answer the research question properly.
28
Give examples of ways to improve reliability.
Repeat measurements, use more sites, use better-calibrated equipment.
29
Give examples of ways to improve accuracy.
Reduce human error (e.g., use digital devices instead of estimation).
30
Give examples of ways to improve validity.
Ensure sampling covers all relevant areas; refine EQS categories.
31
Will you be asked to write up your own fieldwork?
Yes—questions will relate to your knowledge of real fieldwork you completed.
32
Will you be tested on unfamiliar fieldwork scenarios?
Yes—Paper 3 includes questions on unfamiliar methods and data.
33
What are common exam question types?
Describe results; explain patterns; evaluate methods; justify sampling; suggest improvements.
34
Give an example of a coastal fieldwork question.
“How effective are coastal management strategies in reducing coastal erosion?”
35
What might be a hypothesis for a coastal study?
“Beach width is greater where groynes are present.”
36
Why are coasts suitable for fieldwork?
Features and processes vary over short distances and can be measured safely.
37
What is a beach profile?
A cross-sectional shape of the beach from the shoreline to the backshore.
38
How is a beach profile measured?
Using ranging poles, a tape measure, and a clinometer.
39
Why collect multiple beach profile transects?
To increase reliability and account for variations along the coast.
40
What can beach profiles show?
Sediment movement, erosion patterns, seasonal change, and wave type influence.
41
What does a steep upper beach indicate?
Strong swash and constructive waves.
42
How is sediment size measured?
Using calipers or a ruler to measure the longest axis of pebbles.
43
How is sediment shape assessed?
Using a sediment roundness scale (e.g., Power’s Scale).
44
Why take a random sample of sediment?
To avoid bias and get a representative sample.
45
What pattern is expected if longshore drift is present?
Sediment becomes smaller and rounder in the direction of LSD.
46
How do you measure wave frequency?
Count the number of waves breaking in 1 minute.
47
What does a high wave frequency indicate?
Destructive waves with stronger backwash.
48
What is swash?
The movement of water up the beach after a wave breaks.
49
What is backwash?
The movement of water back down the beach due to gravity.
50
Why measure the height difference of beach material on either side of a groyne?
To determine the direction and strength of longshore drift.
51
What does a higher beach level on the updrift side of a groyne indicate?
Active longshore drift depositing sediment on that side.
52
What equipment is needed for groyne measurements?
Tape measure and ranging pole.
53
What is the purpose of groynes?
To trap sediment and build up the beach, reducing erosion downstream.
54
What is the purpose of rip-rap (rock armour)?
To absorb wave energy and protect the coastline.
55
What is one weakness of hard engineering?
Can increase erosion further along the coast.
56
What is soft engineering?
Sustainable, natural approaches such as beach nourishment or dune restoration.
57
What are examples of secondary data for coasts?
Wave height data, erosion rates, historical maps, aerial photos, shoreline management plans.
58
Why use secondary data?
To provide context and validate fieldwork results.
59
Name a hazard in coastal fieldwork.
Strong waves, slippery rocks, changing tides.
60
What is a safety precaution at a beach?
Check tide times and avoid standing too near the water.
61
What graph is suitable for beach profile data?
Cross-sectional profile graph.
62
What graph is suitable for wave frequency?
Bar graph or line graph.
63
What is a suitable presentation of LSD direction?
Annotated field sketch or arrow diagram.
64
What trend would support groyne effectiveness?
Higher beach material on the updrift side.
65
What does a shallow, wide beach indicate?
Constructive waves and sediment deposition.
66
What does an increase in pebble roundness in one direction suggest?
Longshore drift transporting sediment.
67
How can beach profile measurements be made more reliable?
Use more transects and repeat measurements.
68
What is a limitation of sediment measurement?
Human error when selecting and measuring pebbles.
69
How can wave frequency measurements be improved?
Repeat counts over longer time periods.
70
What is a weakness of groyne measurements?
Beach level varies with tides and weather; snapshots may not show long-term patterns.
71
Why might results not match expected theory?
Weather conditions, seasonal variation, imperfect sampling, human error.
72
What was the human fieldwork question?
“How and why does quality of life vary between Boscombe West (Churchill Gardens) and Boscombe East (Shelley Park)?”
73
Why compare two contrasting areas?
To identify spatial variations in quality of life and link them to deprivation levels and land use.
74
Why is Boscombe West (Churchill Gardens) suitable for study?
It is a more deprived area with older housing and socio-economic challenges, giving clear contrasts.
75
Why is Boscombe East (Shelley Park) useful as a comparison?
It has higher quality housing, more green space, and lower deprivation, offering a contrasting environment.
76
Why is a small-scale urban study appropriate for human fieldwork?
It allows safe access, easy data collection, and clear variation over short distances.
77
What sampling method was used for site selection?
Systematic sampling along a transect through each area.
78
Why use systematic sampling?
Reduces bias and provides even coverage of the neighbourhood.
79
What is an Environmental Quality Survey?
A scoring system assessing noise, litter, building condition, traffic, graffiti, etc.
80
Why use an EQS?
Provides quantifiable data to compare quality of life between areas.
81
What bias may occur in an EQS?
Subjective scoring — different people score features differently.
82
How can EQS reliability be improved?
Use a shared criteria sheet, train all surveyors, or average results from several people.
83
Why carry out a land-use survey?
To record facilities, services, housing types, and signs of regeneration
84
What pattern would you expect between Boscombe East and West?
More services, cafés, and well-kept buildings in Boscombe East; more mixed or lower-grade land use in Boscombe West.
85
How is a pedestrian count conducted?
Count the number of people passing a point in a set time (e.g., 2 minutes).
86
Why do pedestrian counts?
Higher pedestrian numbers can indicate better facilities, safety, and economic activity.
87
How can pedestrian counts be made more reliable?
Repeat at different times and average results; use more counters.
88
Why use a questionnaire?
To collect opinions on quality of life, safety, and local facilities.
89
What ethical issue must be considered?
Ensure anonymity and voluntary participation.
90
What is a limitation of questionnaires?
Unrepresentative sample—people may refuse or only certain groups respond.
91
What secondary data can support this study?
Census data, Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD), crime statistics, house price data.
92
Why use IMD?
Provides reliable, official deprivation comparisons between the two areas.
93
What result pattern would indicate higher quality of life in Boscombe East?
Higher EQS scores, better housing condition, more green space, fewer vacant shops, lower traffic noise.
94
What might lower EQS scores in Boscombe West suggest?
Greater deprivation, poorer housing, more traffic, less maintenance, or more crime concerns.
95
How could pedestrian counts differ?
Higher in Boscombe East due to better amenities and perceived safety.
96
Name two reasons why Boscombe West might show lower quality of life.
Higher deprivation; older housing stock; fewer maintained public spaces.
97
Why might Boscombe East score higher?
Wealthier residents, better services, well-kept housing and parks, lower crime rates.
98
Why use a bar chart for EQS scores?
Easy comparison between multiple sites in each area.
99
Why use proportional symbols for pedestrian counts?
Quickly shows differences in footfall across sites.
100
What presentation method works well for land use?
Annotated street sketch or GIS map.
101
What limits the validity of the EQS?
Subjective scoring — may reflect personal opinions.
102
What limits the validity of pedestrian counts?
Time-of-day variation; weather conditions; events.
103
What is a key limitation of questionnaires?
Small sample sizes reduce representativeness.
104
How could the study be improved overall?
More sites, repeat on different days, use larger sample size, include more secondary data.
105
What should a strong conclusion include?
A clear statement answering the research question, supported by EQS, pedestrian count, and questionnaire evidence.
106
Why might results differ from expectations?
Daytime variations, weather, temporary construction/regeneration, atypical sample of respondents.
GCSE Geography
flashcards
Decks in class (9)
# Cards
-
Topic 1 - Hazardous Earth94
-
Topic 2 - Development Dynamics69
-
Topic 4 - The UK Evolving Physical Landscape93
-
Topic 5 - The UK Evolving Human Landscape83
-
Topic 6 - Fieldwork106
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Topic 3 - Challenges Of An Urbanising World98
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Topic 7 - People And The Biosphere55
-
Topic 8 - Forests Under Threat92
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Topic 9 - Consuming Energy Resources82
