GCSE Geography Paper 3 - Geographical Applications
Preparing for Section B: Fieldwork and Skills
The fieldwork enquiry process:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
•Idenitfying a suitbale question for geographical enquiry
•Selecting, measuring annd recording data approproriate to the chosen enquiry
• Selecting approproiate ways of processing and presenting fieldwork data
• Describing, analysing and explaining fieldwork data
• Reaching conclusions
• Evaluating the geographical enquiry
6.
Paper 3 breakdown:
- Section A: Pre Release Material
- Section B part 1: Unseen fieldwork
- Section B part 2: Familiar fieldwork (Physical and Human)
Paper 3 Exam: Monday 11th June (PM)
1
Familiar fieldwork questions and answers
‘Groynes at Hornsea have been effective at reducing rates of erosion’
:
There was a range of survey points/groynes available at Hornsea as the area suffers from
erosion has so has coastal management in place (1)
The study area chosen along the beach is safe because it is away from unstable cliffs and the
water level is not too deep as this would make it unsafe for us. (1)
We measured sediment accumulation at either side of the groyne. We used this method
because it helps to answer our hypothesis. For example, sediment built up on the north side of
the groyne means the groynes have been effective at trapping sand due to longshore drift,
therefore building up the beach to reduce erosion. We used the meter ruler to measure from
the top of the groyne on the north side to the surface of the sediment then repeated for the
south side. We then calculated the average difference between the north and south side drop.
We repeated our method 10 times, using Stratified systematic sampling, surveying all 10
groynes within the study area to gain a large sample size.
2
‘Housing quality increases the further you travel from the CBD of ________________’
Firstly, located bar charts were the technique used to present the primary data (housing
quality survey). Located bar charts are effective because, they allowed us make easy
comparisons to be made between our two study locations and see the overall trend. We used
the same scale from -2 to +2 for each graph, overlaid these graphs onto a base map. We then
arranged the graphs around the locations and changed the colour of the bars to red to the
inner city and blue for the suburbs, creating a key to once again allow the reader to see the
variation and distribution (pattern) of the data more clearly. This was important because a
negative of this could be too much data on a page could be confusing and it is important to
format the axis on Excel so the data is comparable between each location.
Secondly, the technique of a scatter graph was used to present the data from our
secondary data collection method. A scatter graph is effective because it allowed us
to see a correlation between our two sets of data; distance from the town centre
(along the x axis) and house prices (along the y axis). A line of best fit then allowed
us to see any patterns or anomalies. However, additional data points would have
increased the accuracy of predictions along the line of best fit.
Overall, our presentations techniques were effective, but small improvements could
have increased accuracy.
3
‘Housing quality increases the further you travel from the CBD of ________________’
On the one hand, results from the housing quality survey were helpful in reaching a reliable
conclusion because they showed that 100% or 6/6 of the averaged results were highest in the
suburbs than in the inner city, which links back to Burgess’ model.
However, brickwork had an anomalous score for suburbs due to building extensions/home
improvements in the out of town location with a rating of +1, not +2. But overall, both sets of
results were helpful, showing clear patterns of housing quality increase, further away from
the CBD. Also, the results though were not totally accurate however as we only completed our
survey in the summer months when gardens will look neat and tidy during this time of year as
everything is growing. If we were to do the survey again we would do it at a different time of
year and take an average. This result was also based on our own judgement – somebody else
could have viewed what I classed as a tidy garden differently.
Our secondary data showed the mean house price in the inner city is £156 000. The mean
house price in the out of town suburbs is £241 000, a difference of £85 000.This was helpful
to show how house prices increase the further away from the CBD which means that the
quality is likely to be higher.
We also used a trusted and well recognised website
(Rightmove).However, we only used 1 website and we should have used more and taken an
average. Also we could have looked at ‘sold’ prices to give us a better idea of housing value, as
a house that’s been for sale longer may at a lower price than a house that’s just been put on
the market.
Overall, our results were helpful in reaching reliable conclusions but if we had more time,
improvements could have been made to further increase reliability.
4
‘Housing quality increases the further you travel from the CBD of ________________’
Firstly, the fieldwork enquiry was a suitable topic due to location. It involved low risk that was
manageable. We could stick to paths and we had only two areas to visit and compare. The CBD
and the suburbs, both had easy access. There was lots of available data that we could gather
easily using a simple bi-polar survey.
Secondly, the topic is also a suitable enquiry because it links to geographical theory such as
urbanisation, looking at how rates in HIC urban areas have slowed down over time, leading to
changes to housing quality both in the suburbs and the inner city.
.
The primary data collection method I used was a housing quality survey. This method directly
answers my enquiry question gathering a range of information on housing quality such brickwork,
garden size, parking and roof quality. For example a large front garden provides space for
children to play, cars to be parked and trees to be planted meaning that the quality of housing
is higher (1) We also did this survey in two contrasting locations, using stratified sampling (1).
Finally, the scale of -2 to +2 provides quantitative data that can be analysed and put into a
graph to allow patterns to be identified and comparisons to be made (1)
5
‘Groynes at Hornsea have been effective at reducing rates of erosion’
Firstly, the data collected from the sediment accumulation survey showed that 90%
of groynes show a negative difference between the north and south side of the groyne,
with a mean score of -58.3cm. This data useful in satisfying the aim of the enquiry as
it confirmed that the groynes are being effective by trapping the sand transported
by longshore drift and therefore building up the beach to create a natural barrier, so
reducing the rates of erosion. However we did not collect data on erosion rates
further down the coastline and it may be that the groynes at Hornsea have caused
erosion rates in other places to speed up, therefore the groynes may not be as
effective as our data suggests.
Secondly, the data collected from Digi Maps show the rate of land loss change has
decreased over time to +7 meters between 1950 and 2018. This was very useful data
as it confirmed that since the groynes have been built in 1950, the beach has extended
into the sea which means the groynes have been effective and reduced the rates of
erosion on the coastline. However, this data was only collected from one source and it
was difficult to tell how up to date the reading of ‘present day’ is. The is important
because we had an anomalous result at groyne 5, due to the groyne being damaged and
having holes in it that were in need of repair and it may be that over time, the groynes
become less effective unless the local council invest in maintaining them.
But overall, the data collected was useful in satisfying the aims of the enquiry, proving
that groynes at Hornsea have, overall, been effective at reducing rates of erosion (in
Hornsea) as evidenced by our primary and secondary data .
6
‘Groynes at Hornsea have been effective at reducing rates of erosion’
On the one hand our methods could have been improved because we made some mistakes due to
human error when measuring the sediment build up on each side of the groyne. Therefore an
improvement could be that we measure the sediment build up at each groyne more accurately
by for example by carrying out a repeat reading and then taking an average which means that
accuracy is improved. However an advantage of our methods is that we used systematic sampling
so gathered data from 10 points which means that the sample size is relatively large in order to
improve accuracy.
Secondly, the results of our enquiry could be improved by making sure that we gathered data
from more than one secondary source. For example, we used Digi Maps to gather results about
erosion rates before and after the groynes were built which showed a land increase of +7metres
between 1950s and present day. However, it was quite difficult to measure distance using this
software package and the data may now be out of date. So using another secondary data source
such as Google Time lapse to compare our results from Digi Map would help us to improve the
reliability of the results gathered.
Finally the conclusions of our enquiry could be improved by making the above changes, as the
methods and results work together to inform our overall conclusion. But an additional
improvement to the conclusion could be to repeat the investigation at a different time of year
e.g. during the winter months to see if rates of longshore drift or damage to the groynes are
more severe at different times of year, which may then effect the overall outcome of our
conclusion.
Overall, whilst improvements could be made, I am confident that our conclusion is reliable due
to having accurate and reliable methods and results.
7
Fieldwork Glossary
Physical Fieldwork: Coasts
Longshore
Drift
Systematic
sampling
Located Bar
charts
Scatter
graph
Sediment
Accumulation
survey
Groyne
Erosion
The zigzag movement of sediment along a shore caused by waves going up the beach at an
oblique angle(wash) and returning at right angles(backwash). This results in the gradual
movement of beach materials along the coast.
Measurements are taken at regular intervals, e.g. every groyne
A bar chart plotted/overlaid onto a map
Tells you how closely related two variables are e.g. year /time versus land loss so
correlations can be identified.
Measuring the build-up of sediment on either side of a groyne
A wooden barrier built out into the sea to stop the longshore drift of sand and shingle,
and so cause the beach to grow. It is used to build beaches to protect against cliff
erosion and provide an important tourist amenity. However, by trapping sediment it
deprives another area, down-drift, of new beach material.
The wearing away and removal of material by a moving force, such as a breaking wave.
Human Fieldwork: Housing Quality
Burgess
Model
Stratified
sampling
Located Bar
charts
Scatter
graph
Housing
quality bipolar survey
Urbanisation
CBD
This model is based on the idea that in a HIC urban area, land values are highest in the
centre of a town or city
This is when the population or area is split into sub groups e.g. suburbs and inner city.
A bar chart plotted/overlaid onto a map
Tells you how closely related two variables are e.g. year /time versus land loss so
correlations can be identified.
A method that uses an observer’s judgements to assess housing quality against a range of
indicators on a scale such (like -2 to +2) to indicate a negative assessment through to a
positive assessment, with 0 representing neither good or bad.
The process by which an increasing percentage of a country's population comes to live in
towns and cities. Rapid urbanisation is a feature of many LICs and NEEs.
Central Business District (Town centre)
General key terms:
Primary Data
Secondary
Data
Quantitative
Sample size
Primary data is collected first hand, by fieldwork to test a hypothesis
Secondary data refers to data that was collected by someone other than the user
Quantitative data is any kind of data that can be measured numerically.
Sample size is an important concept in statistics, and refers to the number of individual
pieces of data collected in a survey. A survey or statistic's sample size is important in
determining the accuracy and reliability of a survey's findings.
8
Sampling
Technique
Line of best
fit
Accessibility
Risk
Assessment
Hypothesis
(Key
question)
Anomaly/ano
malous result
Accuracy
Reliability
Subjectivity
the act, process, or technique of selecting a suitable sample
A straight line drawn through the center of a group of data points plotted on a scatter
plot.
Within relatively easy reach
The process of evaluating the potential risks that may be involved in a projected activity
or undertaking.
A predicted statement (or question) that can be tested
A result that is different from the normal pattern/what is expected
How close to the truth your data is.
How trustworthy the data is
A result based on or influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions
The Mark Schemes
Short answer questions 1-3 Marks
-
One detailed justification can earn maximum marks
One developed point along with one brief one can also earn maximum
marks
3 brief statements are also credit worthy so long as they have an
element of justification
Extended answer questions 6-9 marks
-
Level 3 (Detailed) Provides a detailed evaluation and provides an informed
overall judgement
-
Level 2 (Clear) Provides a clear evaluation. Makes an overall judgement
Level 1 (Basic) A basic evaluation is provided, but any judgement is weak
and generalised.
+3SPaG = Spelling and punctuating with consistent accuracy, showing effective meaning
and correctly using a wide range of specialist terms.
*Remember the focus of this paper is on A03 (application).
9
Example of Familiar Fieldwork Questions
1. Explain why you selected any two secondary sources used as part of your fieldwork
enquires (6)
2. With reference to the planning and design in one of your enquires, assess how helpful
a geographical theory or concept(s) were in developing your enquiry (9) +3 SPaG
3. Justify the sampling techniques used in your geographical enquires (6)
4. Referring to one of your enquires, assess the extent to which you were successful in
collecting primary data. (9) +3 SPaG
5. Explain one way in which you collated/summarised your primary fieldwork data (2)
6. For one of your enquires, explain one reason why you selected a specific data
presentation method (2)
7. Justify one type of graph used in your human geography enquiry (2)
8. Justify one cartographic technique used in your human geography enquiry (2)
9. With reference to data presentation methods used in one of your enquires, explain
to what extent these helped you to interpret your fieldwork data (9+3 SPaG)
10. Explain one method that you used to analyse your primary fieldwork data (2)
11. Justify the use of one statistical technique that you used to analyse data in your
physical geography enquiry (3)
12. Explain the geographical links between any two sets of data you collected in your
human enquiry (3)
13. Assess the effectiveness of one technique you used to analyse your fieldwork data
in your human geography enquiry (6)
14. With reference to one of your fieldwork enquiries, suggest how you could have
improved the analysis of your data (9 +3 SPaG)
10
15. Explain to what extent your secondary data helped to support your conclusions (6)
16. Explain to what extent a geographical theory or concept helped you to draw
conclusions in your physical geography enquiry (6)
17. Assess the strength of the conclusions that you were able to draw from your
fieldwork (6)
18. With reference to one of your fieldwork enquires, assess the extent to which your
conclusions matched your expectations at the start of your enquiry (9 3 SPaG)
19. Explain one problem that you encountered in your data collection. (2)
20. Explain how the time of day or year of your physical enquiry may have affected
your results (3)
21. For one of your enquires, explain how your sample size may have affected the
reliability of your conclusions (2)
22. Referring to one fieldwork investigation you have carried out, assess the range of
additional data that could be used to improve your results (9+3 SPaG)
23. Referring to one fieldwork investigation you have carried out, assess the problems
that you faced with your methods of data collection. (9+3 SPaG)
11
AQA Skills checklists
12
13
14
15
Remember to be critical, think like geographers and remember that you can use a
calculator in all 3 of your geography exams.
Good luck!
16
17