Fieldwork and geographical skills

H2 Geography - syllabus 9173, 2027

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Plan an investigation, read its evidence and decide how far to trust its conclusions.

• Writing a fieldwork question

  Define the place, people, variables and time before choosing a method.

• Sampling people, places and times

  A larger sample reduces some uncertainty, but cannot repair a biased selection method.

• Choosing and collecting evidence

  Match each source to the question it can answer, then compare sources that measure different parts of the issue.

• Accuracy, reliability and validity

  Accuracy concerns closeness to the true value; reliability concerns consistency; validity concerns whether the evidence answers the intended question.

• Ethics, safety and practical limits

  Good fieldwork protects participants and investigators while making the limits of the method clear.

• Investigating community climate responses

  Measure what people do, why they do it and what prevents action; awareness alone is not a response.

• Investigating older residents' needs

  A needs analysis compares what people need with what they can actually use.

• Investigating river flood risk

  Combine channel and catchment evidence with rainfall and flood records; one visit cannot represent every storm.

• Finding patterns in numbers

  Describe the pattern with numbers, then check the spread, exceptions and possible explanations.

• Interpreting interviews and observations

  Group evidence by a clear rule, then return to the original context before drawing a conclusion.

• Choosing a thematic map

  The map symbol must match the measure; a rate and a total answer different questions.

• Reading contours and gradients

  Gradient compares vertical change with horizontal distance; contour spacing helps locate steeper ground.

• Reading a cartogram

  A cartogram resizes places by a variable such as population; its areas no longer represent land area.

• Choosing a graph for the question

  Choose the graph after identifying what the numbers represent and what comparison matters.

• Reading and drawing a pie chart

  A pie chart divides one whole; sector angles must add to 360 degrees.

• Reading histograms with unequal intervals

  Histogram area represents frequency. With unequal intervals, height must show frequency divided by class width.

• Comparing several measures on a radar chart

  Compare each axis before making an overall judgement; the largest polygon is not automatically the best place.

• Reading three shares on a triangular graph

  Each vertex means 100% of one component; lines parallel to the opposite side show its share.

• Reading photographs, diagrams and cartoons

  Describe visible evidence first, then explain what it suggests and what extra information is needed.

• Interpreting a cartoon's argument

  Explain the cartoonist's message using specific details, then distinguish that message from verified evidence.

• Conclusions and evaluation

  Give a qualified answer, weigh the most important limitations and explain how each affects the conclusion.