Topic 6: Fieldwork (HUMAN)

Question 1

What was your enquiry question?

Answer 1

How and why are there variations in quality of life for different areas within Bournemouth?

Question 2

Name the locations you visited.

Answer 2

Boscombe & Shelley Park, Bournemouth, Dorset, South England

Question 3

Explain why the location was suitable for this question.

Answer 3

Because they are only a mile apart, but have very different standards of living and quality of life.

Question 4

Write out your method to measure environmental quality (Bi-polar EQS - Quantitive)

Answer 4

1. Using a map, we visited site A in Boscombe (Boscombe West).
2. Visited point A and used a bi polar survey table to collect data. An example category being LGV (litter, graffiti and vandalism).
3. We stood in one point and checked the area for any of the 6 categories.
4. Used a score system -2 to +2, with -2 being poor and +2 being good.
5. Added up the row to get the total score.
6. We then moved to point B and C in the same area.
7. Once all 3 points were visited we added up the overall total score.
8. We repeated this investigation in Boscombe East and visited points A, B and C.

Question 5

Write out your method to measure perceptions of environmental quality (Qualitative - mood mapping).

Answer 5

1. Visit location A. Location A chosen from a smaller area of Boscombe. 3 sites in total visited.
2. Look at the mood table which shows energy high to low on the y-axis and positive to negative on the x-axis.
3. For example if you were somewhere pleasant with a mid energy level, you may write the word ‘content’. If you were somewhere you felt negative and had high energy, you may feel ‘fuming’.
4. Repeat at sites A, B and C in both locations.

Question 6

Explain two positive features of each of your methods.

Answer 6

Bi-polar EQS: • Easily replicated and it is appropriate and easy for students to follow.
• It gives numerical data, which helps us answer our questions.
Mood mapping: • It is easy to carry out.
• Gives a feeling for the area, something that quantitive data can’t do.

Question 7

Explain two sources of error in each of your methods.

Answer 7

Bi-polar EQS: • Only saw a snap shot at one time on one day so can’t get a full picture of the area.
• It is subjective since everyone has a different opinion on the score.
Mood mapping: • The data is subjective.
• Opinions can change depending on how people feel on the day.

Question 8

How did you use sampling in each of methods?

Answer 8

For both methods the area choice was chosen through stratified sampling (choosing 2 areas) and location A,B,C was also chosen through stratified sampling.

Question 9

What were the positives and negatives of your sampling strategies?

Answer 9

Using stratified sampling allows us to see a range of different areas.

Question 10

Explain how the Crime data and house prices and deprivation level (secondary source) of your location supported your investigation.

Answer 10

There is much more crime in Boscombe (it is better than 1% of areas in England) compared to Shelley Park (better than 13% of areas in England).

House prices are much higher in Shelley Park compared to Boscombe and deprivation levels are higher in Boscombe West compared to Shelley Park.

Question 11

Write out your conclusions including evidence that supports these whether deprivation is higher in one area than other (inner city vs suburbs).

Answer 11

• Our primary data shows that there is a big gap in quality of life between Shelly Park and Boscombe West. The average EQS in Shelley Park was +3 compared to -2 in Boscombe West. This shows that the environment is better in Shelly Park.
• For noise and housing quality, Shelly Park scored the top score of +2, much better than Boscombe West. Boscombe West had high density terraced housing and the areas High Multiple Occupancy buildings.
• Our Qualitative photos showed damage to brickwork and windows, no front gardens, no space to park cars, and houses all right on the road in Boscombe West. This links it with poor health for people due to air/noise pollution and indicating low wealth and property maintenance. However, in Shelly Park there were low density detached houses, excellent parks, and trees along the roadside.
- In Boscombe west the moods included, mellow, tense and focused, but in shelley park, the moods included serene, restless and satisfied.

Question 12

Explain how problems in your investigation might have affected the accuracy and reliability of your conclusions.

Answer 12

EQS (quantitive) - Was a -2 to +2 scale the best? Did it allow us to accurately measure how good/bad an area was? Scores were subjective. Different people have different views. - -5 to +5 scoring system. Using a noise metre. Could have done a traffic count instead of judging the traffic.
Annotated photos (qualitative) - Is the photo representative of the area? We only took one photo. Our upbringing will affect how we judge and view the area. - Complete questionnaires to find out residents views. Use different people to undertake the same task (different backgrounds).

Question 13

Write out your method to measure perceptions of environmental quality (Qualitative - annotated photographs).

Answer 13

In our 2 areas we chose the middle site (B) and we took a photo of an example property. We annotated them at a later date.