3.3.2 Fieldwork — Overview
Fieldwork is a compulsory part of AQA GCSE Geography. You must carry out two fieldwork investigations — one in a physical environment and one in a human environment — and answer questions about them in Paper 3.
What fieldwork involves
Each investigation follows the same process:
- Formulate a question/hypothesis: What are you investigating? A clear geographical question or hypothesis.
- Data collection: Choose appropriate primary methods (questionnaires, river measurements, land use mapping, EQI surveys, traffic counts, etc.) and secondary sources.
- Data presentation: Maps, graphs, charts, photographs, sketch maps — must be appropriate for the data type.
- Analysis: Describe patterns and anomalies; refer to specific data; use geographical terminology.
- Conclusions: Answer the original question; is the hypothesis supported?
- Evaluation: How could the study be improved? Were the methods reliable? What were the limitations?
Types of data
- Quantitative data: numbers — counts, measurements, percentages. Allows statistical analysis.
- Qualitative data: descriptions, photographs, interview responses. Provides context and meaning.
- Primary data: you collected it yourself.
- Secondary data: collected by someone else (ONS census, Environment Agency, etc.)
Common fieldwork methods
| Environment | Methods |
|---|---|
| Physical (river) | Velocity (flow meter), cross-section width/depth, bedload size, channel gradient |
| Physical (coastal) | Beach profiles, wave height/frequency, sediment size/shape |
| Human (urban) | Environmental Quality Index (EQI), questionnaires, land use surveys, pedestrian counts |
Exam questions on fieldwork
Paper 3 tests fieldwork knowledge through questions about YOUR investigations:
- Justify your choice of data collection method
- Describe how you collected data (be specific — name the technique and equipment)
- Identify limitations of your method and suggest improvements
- Analyse your data (refer to specific figures)
- Reach a conclusion
Exam focus
- Know both your investigations in detail — be able to name methods, locations, dates
- Always refer to specific data in conclusions
- Evaluate honestly — examiners reward honest identification of limitations
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