In the context of planning a physical geography fieldwork enquiry on a small upland river, define the fieldwork term 'hypothesis'.
(Total for Question 1 is 1 mark)
2
For a human geography pedestrian study in a town centre, state what is meant by the variable 'dependent variable'.
(Total for Question 2 is 1 mark)
3
When designing primary data collection for either a river or urban study, state one example of an ethical consideration the field team should address.
(Total for Question 3 is 1 mark)
4
In planning fieldwork, state one purpose of writing a risk assessment before visiting a river or town centre study site.
(Total for Question 4 is 1 mark)
5
Suggest an appropriate method for collecting data on river channel width at several locations along a small upland river, and name the equipment you would use for the measurement.
(Total for Question 5 is 3 marks)
6
Suggest an appropriate method, with equipment, for measuring surface water velocity at a fixed point in the river as part of a physical enquiry.
(Total for Question 6 is 3 marks)
7
Suggest an appropriate method for collecting pedestrian footfall data along a town centre street during a one-hour period, and state one piece of simple equipment to use.
(Total for Question 7 is 2 marks)
8
Suggest an appropriate method for collecting data on shoppers opinions about the town centre, and name one ethical consideration for this method.
(Total for Question 8 is 2 marks)
9
Justify the choice of a systematic sampling strategy for measuring channel width and velocity at regular intervals downstream along the upland river.
(Total for Question 9 is 3 marks)
10
Justify the choice of stratified sampling for conducting shopper questionnaires across a town centre with three clear zones: high street, covered market and edge-of-centre car park.
(Total for Question 10 is 3 marks)
11
Justify the use of random sampling for selecting households to interview in a residential area near the town centre when measuring travel to work patterns.
(Total for Question 11 is 3 marks)
12
Identify one suitable secondary data source for a river channel study and state how it could help the enquiry.
(Total for Question 12 is 1 mark)
13
Identify one suitable secondary data source for an urban pedestrian study and state how it could help in planning the fieldwork.
(Total for Question 13 is 1 mark)
14
Identify one risk specific to conducting measurements on a river bank during fieldwork and explain how this risk could be reduced in your risk assessment.
(Total for Question 14 is 3 marks)
15
Identify one risk specific to carrying out questionnaires or counts in a busy town centre and explain how it could be reduced.
(Total for Question 15 is 2 marks)
Mark scheme · GEO.SK6 Fieldwork Enquiry: Planning, Sampling and Data Collection
Question 1
B1 a testable statement predicting the outcome of the enquiry, linking variables, oe
Answer: A hypothesis is a testable statement predicting the outcome of the enquiry, linking variables.
Question 2
B1 the variable that is measured or observed in the enquiry because it depends on another variable, oe
Answer: The dependent variable is the variable that is measured or observed in the enquiry because it depends on another variable.
Question 3
B1 e.g. obtaining informed consent from survey respondents, oe
Answer: Obtaining informed consent from survey respondents.
Question 4
B1 to identify hazards and plan how to reduce them so people are kept safe, oe
Answer: To identify hazards and plan how to reduce them so people are kept safe.
Question 5
B1 measure the width directly at transects across the channel, oe
B1 equipment named, e.g. tape measure or range pole and measuring tape, oe
B1 repeat at several evenly spaced locations downstream to compare, oe
Answer: Measure the channel width directly at transects across the channel using a tape measure or range pole and measuring tape, repeating at several evenly spaced locations downstream to allow comparison.
Question 6
B1 use a float method, timing how long a floating object takes to travel a set distance on the surface, oe
B1 equipment named, e.g. stopwatch and measured tape or measured poles to mark the distance, oe
B1 repeat several runs and calculate average velocity to improve accuracy, oe
Answer: Use the float method: time how long a floating object takes to travel a measured distance using a stopwatch and marked poles or tape; repeat several runs and calculate the average velocity.
Question 7
B1 use tally counts at fixed counting points to record number of pedestrians passing per time interval, oe
B1 equipment named, e.g. clipboard and tally sheet or clicker counter, oe
Answer: Use tally counts at fixed counting points to record the number of pedestrians passing per time interval, using a clipboard and tally sheet or a clicker counter.
Question 8
B1 use a short structured questionnaire or interview with pre-set questions, oe
B1 ethical consideration named, e.g. obtain informed consent and assure anonymity, oe
Answer: Use a short structured questionnaire or brief interview with pre-set questions; obtain informed consent and assure respondents that their answers will be anonymous.
Question 9
B1 systematic sampling ensures measurements are taken at regular, evenly spaced intervals so patterns along the river can be identified, oe
B1 it is simple to implement in the field and reduces bias compared with handpicked sites, oe
B1 regular intervals make it easier to compare upstream and downstream changes and to graph results, oe
Answer: Systematic sampling gives regular, evenly spaced measurements so patterns downstream can be identified; it is simple to implement and reduces bias from handpicking sites, and it makes comparison and graphing of upstream to downstream change straightforward.
Question 10
B1 stratified sampling ensures each distinct zone is represented so differences between zones can be compared, oe
B1 it increases representativeness if shopper behaviour differs by zone, oe
B1 sample sizes can be allocated by zone size or importance to give reliable comparisons, oe
Answer: Stratified sampling ensures each distinct zone is represented so differences between the high street, covered market and car park can be compared; it increases representativeness where behaviour differs by zone and allows sample sizes to be allocated by zone for reliable comparison.
Question 11
B1 random sampling reduces selection bias because every household has an equal chance of selection, oe
B1 it is appropriate when there is no obvious stratification and the aim is to generalise to the area, oe
B1 random selection can be combined with a sampling frame or random number method to be reproducible, oe
Answer: Random sampling reduces selection bias because every household has an equal chance of selection; it is suitable when no obvious stratification exists and the aim is to generalise, and it can be made reproducible using a sampling frame or random numbers.
Question 12
B1 e.g. Ordnance Survey maps, to give accurate channel position, gradient and historical planform for planning transects, oe
Answer: Ordnance Survey maps, which give accurate channel position, gradient and historical planform useful for planning transects and locating sampling points.
Question 13
B1 e.g. local council footfall or retail data, to indicate peak times and key shopping streets for targeting counts, oe
Answer: Local council footfall or retail data, which indicate peak times and key shopping streets to help decide where and when to carry out pedestrian counts.
Question 14
B1 identify risk, e.g. slipping into fast-flowing water from a wet, uneven bank, oe
B1 primary control, e.g. require wearing buoyancy aids or lifejackets and suitable footwear, oe
B1 secondary control, e.g. work in pairs with a safety briefing and keep a safe distance from the water edge, oe
Answer: Risk: slipping into fast-flowing water from a wet, uneven bank. Reduce by requiring buoyancy aids or lifejackets and suitable non-slip footwear, and working in pairs with a safety briefing and keeping a safe distance from the water edge.
Question 15
B1 identify risk, e.g. risk of road traffic or crowding causing trips or collisions, oe
B1 control, e.g. carry out counts on pavements away from the road, wear high-visibility clothing and choose quieter times or use marshals, oe
Answer: Risk: road traffic or crowding causing trips or collisions. Reduce by carrying out counts on pavements away from the road, wearing high-visibility clothing and choosing quieter times or using marshals to manage the area.