Fieldwork Planning Skills
Component 3: Applied Fieldwork Enquiry
WJEC Eduqas Component 3 is worth 25% of the total GCSE. It is examined (you don't submit coursework) — you answer questions about two fieldwork enquiries you have carried out:
- A physical geography enquiry (e.g., river processes, coastal landforms)
- A human geography enquiry (e.g., quality of life, town centre change, tourism)
You will also face a section with an unfamiliar enquiry — applying your fieldwork skills to new contexts.
Stage 1: Planning a Fieldwork Enquiry
Research Questions and Hypotheses
A research question is an open-ended question your enquiry will address. Good research questions are:
- Focused and specific
- Geographically relevant
- Answerable with data you can collect
Example research question: "How do pebble sizes change downstream along the River Exe?"
A hypothesis is a testable prediction, usually in the form: "[Variable A] will increase/decrease as [Variable B] increases."
Example hypothesis: "Pebble roundness will increase and pebble size will decrease with distance downstream." (Predicts the pattern based on attrition theory.)
Sampling Strategies
When you cannot measure everything, you take a sample. Three main methods:
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Random sampling: Points or objects chosen randomly (e.g., using random number tables). Removes bias. Example: randomly selecting quadrats in a field survey.
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Systematic sampling: Points chosen at regular intervals. Example: measuring every 10th pebble in a river; measuring vegetation height every 5 metres along a transect. Easy to do; may miss anomalies between sample points.
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Stratified sampling: The sample is proportionally divided by sub-groups (strata). Example: if 60% of a town's land use is residential and 20% is commercial, your sample should reflect this proportion. Ensures representation of all groups.
Sample size: Larger samples are more reliable (reduce anomalies) but take longer. A balance must be struck. In GCSE fieldwork, typically 10–30 measurements are taken.
Risk Assessment
Every fieldwork enquiry requires a risk assessment — identifying:
- The hazard (what could go wrong?)
- The level of risk (high/medium/low)
- The precaution (what will you do to reduce the risk?)
Example (coastal fieldwork):
| Hazard | Risk Level | Precaution |
|---|---|---|
| Slipping on wet rocks | Medium | Wear non-slip shoes; avoid rocks during high tide |
| Sunburn | Low | Apply sunscreen; wear a hat |
| Getting cut off by the tide | High | Check tide times; do not go beyond the headland |
| Lone working | Medium | Work in pairs; inform teacher of location |
Choosing an Appropriate Location
Fieldwork locations should be:
- Safe (pass the risk assessment)
- Accessible (travel, permission if private land)
- Representative (gives a fair picture of what you're studying)
- Appropriate for the enquiry question and data collection methods
Writing a Good Enquiry Plan
A good plan includes:
- Research question and hypothesis
- Sampling strategy (type, location, sample size) and justification
- Data collection methods (what equipment, how you will use it)
- Risk assessment
- How you will present and analyse the data
WJEC Exam Tips
- In the exam, you may be asked to design or evaluate a fieldwork plan for an unfamiliar enquiry
- Always justify your choices — don't just say "I used systematic sampling" but explain WHY
- "Evaluate" questions ask you to assess limitations — what could go wrong? What would improve reliability?
AI-generated · claude-opus-4-7 · v3-wjec-geography