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GCSE/Geography/Edexcel

T6.1Physical fieldwork investigation: enquiry process — question/hypothesis, methods, data presentation, analysis, conclusions, evaluation; one physical fieldwork (coastal or river)

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Physical Fieldwork Investigation

The geographical enquiry process

Edexcel B requires you to undertake one physical fieldwork investigation (coast or river) and one human fieldwork investigation. The enquiry process has six steps:

  1. Question / hypothesis — what are you investigating?
  2. Data collection methods — primary and secondary, with sampling strategy.
  3. Data presentation — how to display findings.
  4. Analysis — patterns, anomalies, statistics.
  5. Conclusions — answering the question with evidence.
  6. Evaluation — strengths/weaknesses; reliability; improvements.

✦Worked example— Example: River fieldwork (testing the Bradshaw model)

Hypothesis: "River velocity, depth and width all increase downstream" (Bradshaw model).

Methods:

  • 5 sites along the river, ~500 m apart (systematic sampling).
  • At each: measure width (tape across stream), depth (metre rule at 5 points across, mean taken), velocity (flow meter or floating object timed over 5 m, mean of 3 readings).
  • Health and safety: hi-vis, supervised, water depth checks.

Presentation:

  • Annotated map showing site locations.
  • Bar charts of mean width/depth/velocity per site.
  • Cross-section diagrams.

Analysis:

  • Calculate mean cross-sectional area (width × depth); use Spearman's rank correlation between distance downstream and velocity.
  • Identify anomalies (e.g. site behind a weir).

Conclusion: "Velocity and width increased downstream, supporting the Bradshaw model. Depth showed a weaker pattern due to bedrock at site 3."

Evaluation:

  • Strengths: standardised methods; multiple readings; safe.
  • Weaknesses: only 5 sites (small sample); single day (weather not controlled); flow meter calibration uncertain.
  • Improvements: 10 sites; repeat over wet/dry season; use professional flowmeter.

✦Worked example— Example: Coastal fieldwork (testing longshore drift / beach profile)

Hypothesis: "Beach material gets smaller along a beach in the direction of longshore drift."

Methods: pebble sampling (10 stones, random throw, calliper measurement) at 5 points along the beach; record long-axis lengths.

Analysis: plot mean pebble size vs distance; calculate Spearman's rank.

Sampling strategies

  • Random — eliminates bias but may miss key features.
  • Systematic — equally spaced (every 100 m); good for transects.
  • Stratified — chosen to represent sub-groups.

Edexcel B exam technique

Paper 2 includes a fieldwork question worth ~16 marks. Be ready to: justify methods, suggest improvements, interpret unfamiliar fieldwork data presented in a graph or table.

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Practice questions

Try each before peeking at the worked solution.

  1. Question 14 marks

    Sampling strategies (4 marks)

    Explain why systematic sampling is often used in physical fieldwork. [4 marks]

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  2. Question 28 marks

    Examine a chosen physical fieldwork investigation (8 marks)

    Examine the methods used to collect primary data in a physical fieldwork investigation you have carried out. [8 marks]

    Level mark scheme:

    LevelMarksDescriptor
    L11–3Lists of methods; little justification; weak/no link to the chosen enquiry.
    L24–6Some explanation of methods and why they were chosen; partial justification; some named locations.
    L37–8Detailed examination of each method with justification, equipment, sampling and safety; clear linkage to the question/hypothesis; evaluative conclusion on data quality.

    Indicative content (river example):

    • Width — tape measure across stream perpendicular to flow.
    • Depth — metre rule at 5 points across, mean taken (avoids one-off readings).
    • Velocity — flow meter held just below surface, repeated 3 times, mean (or floating-object method as a backup).
    • Cross-sectional area — calculated = width × mean depth.
    • Sampling: 5 sites at 500 m intervals (systematic) along the river; choice justified as covering the upper-mid-lower course.
    • Safety: lifejackets, hi-vis, supervised by teacher.
    • Conclusion: methods produced reliable, comparable data, but limitations included only one repeat day and basic equipment.
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  3. Question 312 marks

    Evaluate a fieldwork investigation (12 marks)

    Evaluate the conclusions of a physical fieldwork investigation you have carried out, including reference to data reliability and improvements. [12 marks]

    Level mark scheme:

    LevelMarksDescriptor
    L11–4Description of fieldwork; no genuine evaluation; weak/no improvements.
    L25–8Some evaluation of conclusions and data reliability; some improvements suggested; partial detail.
    L39–12Detailed evaluation; conclusions linked to evidence; strengths AND weaknesses of methods; specific improvements with justification; justified judgement on overall reliability.

    Indicative content (river example):

    • Conclusion recap: velocity and width increased downstream (supporting Bradshaw); depth was anomalous at one site.
    • Strengths: systematic sampling; multiple readings averaged; standardised equipment; safety procedures.
    • Weaknesses: only 5 sites; one day only — couldn't test seasonal/weather variation; flow meter not professionally calibrated; bedrock at one site distorted depth.
    • Improvements:
      • 10 sites for finer resolution.
      • Repeat in wet and dry seasons.
      • Use professional Valeport flowmeter for higher accuracy.
      • Use Spearman's rank correlation to test statistical significance.
      • Triangulate with secondary data (Environment Agency river gauges).
    • Conclusion: the investigation supported the Bradshaw model with reasonable confidence, but the small sample and single-day data mean conclusions are tentative; the proposed improvements would significantly strengthen reliability.
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Flashcards

T6.1 — Physical fieldwork investigation: enquiry process for coastal or river fieldwork

7-card SR deck for Edexcel Geography (leaves batch 1) topic T6.1

7 cards · spaced repetition (SM-2)

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