1. Write this down!! ….
Your NEA literature review is to be completed and printed and ready to hand in on: Thursday 24th May 2018, p2

2. Starter… Key Terms Match the key terms below:
Qualitative data
First hand data collected by the researcher themselves.
Quantitative data
This is descriptive data gathered through observation and reflects people’s opinions e.g. an EIA survey.
Primary data
Data that someone else has already collected e.g. using a geology map.
Secondary data
These techniques measure different variables and are recorded as numbers e.g. counting the number of waves breaking in 1 minute.
Physical topics may lend themselves to more ‘counting’, but it’s important to blend in some good qualitative information. Human topics are likely to be more qualitative, but published secondary data is often quantitative.

3. Title: Independent Investigation – The Methods
LO: To understand the primary and secondary methods that you could use in your independent investigation.

4. Designing the fieldwork methodologies, research and selection of appropriate equipment – exam board comments
Students need to show a consideration of how to observe and record phenomena in the field and to design appropriate data-collection strategies taking account of sampling and the frequency and timing of observation.
They should demonstrate knowledge and understanding of how to select practical field methodologies (primary) appropriate to their investigation (may include a combination of qualitative and quantitative techniques).
Show an understanding of what secondary data is needed to help support findings and judgements.

5. Tasks
You’ve been given an extensive list of potential methods for geography fieldwork ….
Task 1: Choose three colours and colour code the methods as either human, physical or both.
Task 2: Next to each method write whether it is a quantitative or a qualitative technique.
Tasks 3-5: Complete the questions / tasks on the sheet.

6. Ethical Considerations
An ethical dimension refers to the moral principles concerning the behaviour and conduct of an individual or group.
It is important when designing fieldwork to consider the ethics of the data you are collecting – how have you avoided putting your opinions / judgements onto others? Have you asked leading questions when interviewing? Have you chosen a variety of people of all ages, genders, ethnic groups?
In human geography the most common ethical dilemmas focus on participation, consent and safe-guarding of personal information / data.
You need to consider the ethical impact of your fieldwork in order to fulfil the mark scheme requirements – make sure you refer to it in your methods.

7. Ethical Considerations
An ethical dimension refers to the moral principles concerning the behaviour and conduct of an individual or group.
It is important when designing fieldwork to consider the ethics of the data you are collecting – how have you avoided putting your opinions / judgements onto others? Have you asked leading questions when interviewing? Have you chosen a variety of people of all ages, genders, ethnic groups?
In physical geography the main ethical considerations are about consent / access to study sites and potential damage (i.e. overuse, trampling) or possible pollution (including litter of study sites).
You need to consider the ethical impact of your fieldwork in order to fulfil the mark scheme requirements – make sure you refer to it in your methods.

8. Pilot Surveys
Pilot surveys are trials, surveys or tests usually carried out in advance of larger-scale surveys.
They should give a clear insight into the feasibility and timescale of your investigation, especially where equipment and recording sheets are involved.
Evidence of modification to data sheets should be documented and presented as part of the final write-up. It shows you are reflective and adaptable and have planned carefully.
Questionnaires: trial your proposed set of questions to 5-10 people. Do you get the answers you were expecting? Did they want to tell you other things? Time how long it takes so you can plan your data collection properly.
Sediment surveys: a pilot survey is important for giving you a feel of the study area and helping to make sure when you sample you don’t miss out certain types of data.

9. Other considerations - human
Timing – think about when you will maximise the number of potential respondents. Time of day / weekday versus weekend.
How long will you count for?
Location – surveys at bus stops are unlikely to get representative results.

10. Other considerations - physical
Timing – think about how systems and processes will vary from season to season and during different weather conditions.
How long will you record data for?
Beach surveys – consider tide times. (Best to complete at low or ebb tides.)
Accessibility to sites – do you need permission? Are there public footpaths?

11. Methodology Try and choose a variety of methods:
Direct observations of processes – gather specific data on a process e.g. measuring longshore drift by dropping a cork into the sea.
Correlation – measuring 2 variables and attempting to correlate this data is common in physical geography. E.g. does particle size determine beach angle or vice versa? It is important to consider that there may be a 3rd variable creating pattern.
Reconstruction – Using old satellite images you can show where the coastline used to be, where old river meanders were etc.
Simulations - changes in the natural world can be slow. Creating a model could help predict change and experiment with variables.
Location-for-time substitution – this method finds places at different stages of development and compares them to predict change. E.g. comparing cliff angles in 1 area of coast that has been protected with an area with no protection and suggesting what might happen if that area becomes defended.

12. Methodology Try and choose a variety of methods:
Direct observations of processes – questionnaires can be used to explain the reason people do things e.g. “why do you shop in this location? / this time of day?”
Mapping and Correlation – data can be collected from a variety of sites across a town and then mapped to see if there is a link between numbers and location.
Reconstruction – this is important to show change over time. You may need to get old goad maps which show land use in a town centre.
Simulations – these are used by councils to predict changes in demographics / transport routes etc.
Location-for-time substitution – this method finds places at different stages of development and compares them to predict change. E.g. studying 1 neighbourhood that has had middle classes move in and gentrify the area 20 years ago and comparing with an area where they are just moving in.

13. What primary data will you collect?
Human
Structured interviews
Quality of life surveys
Questionnaire
Clone town survey (retail)
8-way thinking attachment survey
EQS
Nearest neighbour analysis
Service Audit
Retail value survey
Pedestrian footfall survey
Accessibility survey
Crime Survey
Bus Index
Building decay survey
Townscape survey
Observation studies
Physical
Field sketches
River cross profile
Erosion & deposition and impacts on flooding.
For example using t-test to investigate changes in pebble size and shape (sediment analysis).
Map of distinctive landforms indicating past river morphology.
Spearman’s Rank to compare river characteristics e.g. river discharge and distance downstream
Environmental analysis
Structured interviews e.g. stakeholder interest in flooding
Think about appropriateness, accuracy and reliability.

14. What secondary data will you collect?
Human
Old map/photograph comparison
Newspaper articles (you might have to go to the archives)
Blogs
Trip advisor
Census data
IMD data
Jobs data
Broadband availability
Education data
Crime data
Accessibility by road
Environment data
Physical
GIS mapping
Satellite interpretation
Aerial interpretation of distinctive landforms indicating past of river change.
Use of GIS, aerial photos and maps to calculate erosion rates for a variety of temporal rates (annual changes and longer-term changes).
Interrogation of GIS of management cells to ascertain land use values and develop cost/benefit analysis to inform the choice of river management strategy.
Photo interpretation of a range of approaches to management to assess environmental impact.