IB Geography Fieldwork: Introduction and outline
You are required to produce a local, small scale study within which primary data collection must
take place. Skills will include planning, collection of data (primary and secondary), presentation,
interpretation and evaluation.
Topic: An investigation into variations of beach characteristics in Hong Kong.
Location: Clearwater Bay area of Hong Kong – two or three beaches.
Background: Coastal processes and features have already studied, including beaches,
beach profiles, deposition, transportation, wave energy, wave refraction, constructive
and destructive waves, etc.
Specific preparation for the fieldwork: 2 / 3 weeks class and homework in order to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Read around the topic and research relevant information about the location.
Set Aims and Hypotheses.
Decide what data is to be collected.
Decide how that data is to be collected (including sampling techniques to be
used).
To make sure that any equipment to be used is available.
To devise data recording tables.
To consider the types of presentations to be produced, eg photographs,
annotated sketches and maps, profiles, scattergraphs, etc so that these can be
planned for on the fieldtrip.
To collect any secondary data, such as climate figures, geology details, relief
maps, etc that might be relevant.
Start the write up of the Aims, Hypotheses and Methods sections.
Resources:
1) Books:
a) A-Z Advancing Geography: Fieldwork:
i) Beach and coastal studies, p18-23.
ii) Field sketching, p34-35.
iii) Beach quality surveys, p44.
iv) Photographing, p60.
v) Sampling, p74-79.
b) Geography Fieldwork Projects:
i) Possible investigations, p166-169.
ii) Techniques, p10-27 & 54-56.
c) Background texts:
i) Planet Geography
ii) Geography in Action.
iii) Landform Systems.
iv) Other geography texts / HK texts
2) Geography Review articles:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
i)
j)
k)
l)
m)
n)
o)
Photography and fieldsketches in coursework
Practical geography: dealing with loads of variables
Measurement in physical geography
Project pitfalls
Realistic fieldwork
Questions and hypotheses
Maps and graphs / Exploring data
Making the most of sketches and photos
ICT and fieldwork
Using maps for fieldwork
Photographs in coursework
Getting maximum marks from coursework
Using GIS in fieldwork
Exploring data
Beach Profiles
1.99
3.00
5.00
5.00
11.00
9.01
9.02
11.02
3.04
9.04
11.04
11.05
3.07
4.09
2.10
3) Others:
a) Maps of the area.
b) Secondary data on geology, climate, tides, etc
c) http://www.rgs.org/OurWork/Schools/Fieldwork+and+local+learning/Fieldwork+te
chniques/Sampling+techniques.htm
Aims and Hypotheses:
You might include something about differences in beach characteristics: beach profiles,
the shape of the beach, the distribution of different materials on the beach, etc.
You would probably also look at the possible factors causing these differences:
sediment size, distance up the beach, tides, human influence, waves (energy,
refraction, etc), wind, aspect, geology, sea depth / gradient, vegetation, etc.
Remember that setting appropriate hypotheses to test is probably the most important
factor in ensuring that you can go on to produce an effective piece of coursework.
Hypotheses which suggest a relationship between beach characteristics and possible
causes are the easiest to test.
You will collect primary data during the day and work on the study in class and at home. You
should make sure you have all the data you need before we leave the beaches, although you
could return at a later date on your own or with a friend.
The word limit is strictly enforced. Think carefully about the number of hypotheses and
their depth and breadth. The examiner will stop reading once this limit is reached and you are
likely to lose marks not only under criterion G but also under criterion E &F.
What is it worth?
HL = 20%
SL = 25%
It is helpful if you add the number of words per section of the study and provide the total
number of words on the front cover of the report.
The following are NOT included in the word count:
 Title page, acknowledgements, contents page, titles and subtitles, references, footnotes
(up to a maximum of 15 words each), map legends and /or keys, labels of 10 words or
less, tables (of statistical or numerical data, or categories, classes or group names),
calculations, appendices (containing only raw data or calculations).
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Work is based around primary data collection in the field. This can be supplemented by
secondary data.
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The selection of a title should be manageable within the word limit.
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Devise an aim /key question which has a theoretical and locational context.
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Devise one or two hypotheses to test. This will allow you to analyse in greater detail and
help you to stick to the word limit
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Methods of data collection must be relevant and manageable in the time available.
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Your collected data should allow for a range of data presentation techniques (maps,
graphs, statistical tests, annotated photos, sketches, etc).
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Your interpretation should include reference to the aims.
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Your conclusion should include a summary of the results, the relevance of these to the
aims and an evaluation.
Group work on data collection is acceptable but your final project must show elements of
individual data collection and uniqueness. This may come from a variety of sources e.g. a
totally different title to anyone else, self-devised data collection methods, secondary data
collected or presentation methods chosen.
When you use secondary data it is vital that you reference it. You must use quotation marks
when you make direct quotes from written material and you must reference all other material
used and provide a full bibliography. From now on keep a list of all textbooks, websites and
other materials referred to as this will make producing your bibliography much easier.
The final project may be sent off to be moderated. They will all be marked by the same examiner
and so it is vital that each project is clearly individual.
Writing up the investigation
Total marks = 30
Criterion A: Fieldwork question and Geographical context, 300 words (3 marks)
The fieldwork questions should be narrowly focused and stated as a question that can be
answered by collecting primary data in the field.
You can make predictions in the form of hypotheses (max 2). The hypotheses must be justified.
The introduction should also explain the main theoretical ideas behind your project. It should not
include irrelevant background material. You should explain where and why the fieldwork is
being carried out. This can include relevant spatial, physical, human conditions and other
background information. The theory and the context must be linked.
You must state the area of the syllabus to which your study relates e.g Option B Oceans.
Put this in when you are talking about the theoretical background e.g in relation to the
Oceans module (option B), Section 5 .............. this investigation was developed to test……..
Location:
 A general location map/maps (annotated) is essential, together with a large scale map
showing specific survey sites are required.
 The maps must be annotated / labelled to highlight their relevance
 Hand drawn maps are a good idea.
 Make sure all maps have a Title, Scale, North arrow and key.
Criterion B: Methods of Investigation, 300 words, (3 marks)
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A clear description and justification of the methods used. The methods must be
appropriate and if possible original. Some knowledge of sampling techniques should be
evident,
Describe and justify your sampling technique.
Make sure your sample size is large enough for meaningful statistical tests,
Include as separate figures all data sheets.
Include pilot surveys and explain areas in need of change (if relevant).
However you display your methodology you should include:
 Name of method
 Date / times / location of sites
 Description of method
 Justification of the method (how does it help to answer the aim / hypothesis)
 Sampling strategy used and a justification of this strategy.
Many studies have used photographs as the basis for their methodology. Annotating the photo
can save on words (note any label of over 10 words is classed as an annotation and so is included
in the word count).
Criterion C: Quality and treatment of information collected, 1350 words with D (5 marks)
The information that you collect and present should be clearly related to the fieldwork question.
You must have a large enough sample size to allow for in-depth analysis.
This is where you present your findings. You must make very good use of relevant maps, graphs,
diagrams, annotated photos, field sketches and statistical techniques (including confidence
limits) to help you to process the data effectively.
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Incorporate this section with your analysis and explanation (Criteria D).
Do not produce graphs which take up a whole page, integrate them into the text.
Maps should be included to represent spatial data. These should not just be downloaded
from the internet. They need to personalised by overlays / annotations.
All maps should have title, scale, north arrow, and key.
Imaginative techniques should be used if possible. This does not necessarily mean high
levels of ICT skills.
There should be competent use of statistical techniques and tests of significance (where
appropriate). You need to show you understand why the test was used.
It is not essential for data to be tested but it must be processed in some way e.g means,
modes, range and indices of dispersion and concentration can be effectively used.
Put raw data in appendix, not in this section. It is better to include a summary table of
results, rather than to have lots of raw data.
If your data processing tables, e.g Spearman’s Rank, are in the appendix, make sure you
refer to this in your analysis.
Criterion D (10 marks): Written analysis, C&D 1350 words
This is the where the most marks are found so this is where most of your writing should be. You
must make strong references to the aims of your investigation and its theoretical and locational
context. You should recognise any trends, correlations or spatial patterns. The description will be
well reasoned and balanced and you must accept or reject each hypothesis. Identify and explain
anomalies if appropriate.
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Skills and techniques will be well integrated into the text.
Save on words by annotating photos and graphs (less than 10 words).
Clearly reference and refer to all your data.
Where relevant use models/ theories to inform your analysis.
The last sentence of any piece of analysis should link back to the aim.
Criterion E: Conclusion, 200 words, (2 Marks)
A good conclusion will be clear concise statements answering your fieldwork question, quoting
evidence and consistent with the analysis. Include references to your results and to the original
aims/ theory. It is acceptable to say that your findings do not match your original predictions.
Criterion F: Evaluation (3 Marks)
300 words
You should review your investigative methodology, including the primary data collection.
Within this you should consider any factors that may have affected the validity of the data
including personal bias and unpredicted external circumstances such as the weather. You should
offer specific and plausible ways in which the study might be improved and could be extended in
the future. There may be some suggestions for modifying the hypotheses.
It is not a good idea to mention a lot of problems, which you could have easily solved yourself if
you had planned more carefully or worked more thoroughly.
Criterion G: Formal Requirements (4 Marks)
The report must meet the five following requirements:
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The work is within the 2500 word limit.
Overall presentation is neat and well structured.
Pages are numbered.
References used for background information follow standard conventions (see below).
All illustrative material is numbered, is fully integrated into the body of the report and is
not relegated to an appendix.
Bibliography and organisation
Your name, candidate number and centre number must be written on the cover together with the
word count.
Spell check your work and make sure everything has titles. All maps, diagrams, maps, photos,
and graphs must be numbered and referred to in the text. Pages must be numbered.
Organise under the assessment criteria headings.
All sources must be acknowledged. Within your text any references should be given as follows
“and so we can say that field sketching is fun” (Peters 2001 pg 24)
In the bibliography you would list the book as:
Peters G.H, (2001), The Joy of Field Sketching. Oxford Press
Higher Level Internal Assessment
Grade
Marks
1
0-3
2
4-7
3
8-11
4
12-15
5
16-19
6
20-23
7
24-30
4
12-15
5
16-19
6
20-23
7
24-30
Standard Level Internal Assessment
Grade
Marks
1
0-3
2
4-6
3
7-11