Coastal Fieldwork Flashcards
Unit 2
What is the research question of your fieldwork investigation?
To what extent does coastal managment impact coastal processes at Al Hamraya Beach?
Explain why your reserch question was suitble for your geographical investigation…
L-Location- The area was local and accessible
E-Enviroment-Varity allowed differences to be analysed
S-Scale-Area was small enough to allow multiple sampling points in time allowed
S-Saftey-Lifegaurd at the beach and weather forecast checked
R-Reliablility-Small scale allowed repetition of measurments to reduce bias
Explain how you identified you research question for your fieldwork investigation…
- Identify local changes (design investigation to see cause
- Secondary data source suggested issue (therefore the basis for an investigation)
-Google earth to see changes in beach width (identify specific sampling sights)
Explain how you used secondary research in your geographical investigation…
Google maps-Timeline function allows beach width measurements to show historic changes
Fieldtrip Data- Comparison with previous fieldtip data collect in the area
Weather and surf data-Wind direction (historic, current and forecast), wave height and direction
Dubai shoreline management plan- Article- Impact of development on Dubai coastline has data and maps for comparison
What is a pilot survey?
A pilot survey is a strategy used to test the questionnaire using a smaller sample compared to the planned sample size
Survey is given to a percentage of the total population
Advantages of a pilot survey
Identifies potential problems - Helps identify potential issues or weaknesses in the survey design, questions, or methodology. Allowing necessary adjustments before conducting the main survey, ensuring more accurate and reliable data collection
Reduces cost and time - making sure main survey can be as accurate as possible
Disadvantages of a pilot survey
Additional time and resources
Small sample size - not the whole picture
potential bias - not a representative of the larger population
What is sampling?
A shortcut method for investigating a whole population
What is systematic sampling?
A method of selecting a sample from a larger population in regular, orgered way. this means choosing every nth item along a transit line
Advantages of systematic sampling
Straight forward (then ransom sampling)
Good coverage of the study area
Disadvantages of systematic sampling
More biases - as not all members or points have an equal chance of being selected
Many lead to an unrepresentative of a particular pattern
What is random sampling?
A sampling method where you uses random number tables to unbiasedly pick sampling locations
Advantages of random sampling
can be used with a large population
Avoid biased
simple
Disadvantages of random sampling
Logistical challenges: can be difficult in a large or hard to access population
Possible over-representation or under-representation
Advantages of Stratified sampling
Representative sample - ensures all subgroups within a population are represented
Increase precision - each group is represented providing more accurate and reliable results
Comparative analysis
Disadvantages of stratified sampling
Complexity in implementation
Cost and resources
Risk of misclassification
Sample size management
What is stratified sampling
A method used to ensure that diffrent sub-groups within a population are adequatly represented in a sample
The population is dived into distinct sub groups, and random samples are taken from each sub group in proportion to their size or significance in the overall population
Explain how you collected the primary data - how do you structure this question?
Sampling- Why? Type?
Method of collecting
Equipment used
Recordinng (how id you do this
Digital photographs
Voice notes and fieldnotes
Explain how you used secondary data to support your fieldwork investigation
secondary data was used to support primary data
Secondary data and reserch supported the design of smapling framework
Results were compared with secondary data
Conclusions made from a range of sources
Secondary information was used to provide quantitative data for statistical analysis
Advantages of out Data presentation methods - results and analysis
L- Linear shows continuous change
E- Easy to read
A-Anomalies easy to see
D-Data (actual) can be had
S-Systematic-allows full coverage of the area
Disadvantages of our data presentation methods - results and analysis
S - Secondary data not used
O- One location shown only
R- Representation systematic-some changes assumed not shown between points
E- Explanation not offered
C- Comparison between graphs difficult
What is data analysis used for?
Data analysis can be used to prove ‘to what extent’ the pattern found is statistically significant and not down to chance
Anylsitical tools such as MEAN,MODE and MEDIAN are used
Data analysis acronym
H-Hypotheses make a link- the updrift of the goryne will have more gentle gradient/wider beach than the downdrift side of the groyne
A- Averages of data on the profile
R - Range of gradient between updrift and downdrift
D - Data used
A- Anomalies
A- Accuracy of the data - inaccuracy in recording data and therefore lack of coverage. Data is not representative of the whole beach
T- Theory-make a link to longshore drift
Evaluate how successfully your investigation answered the title or question you chose
M- METHODOLOGY
A- ACCURACY of results
S- SAMPLING FRAMEWORK site, distance between sites, method
C- CONCLUSION strength. Reflect on ‘to what extent
A- ACCURACY of results
R- RANGE and quality of data
A- ANOMALIES
L- LOCATION suitability- why chosen and context
T- TOPIC appropriateness
D- DATA analysis- method, mean, range, spearmans rank
What factors could influence the Reliability of your investigation?
Short stregch of coast - unrespresentative
cannot compare results with similar coastal area- could have confirmed their findings as being representative and allowed them to comment on the degree of reliability
One short stregch=limited data therefore uncertinty in conclution as they are making a generalisation
Only represents the shape of the beach at the time of measurements
Subsequent tides, currents, waves, or storm may change the shape of the beach dramatically from day to day
Short term observed at a beach profile loaction do not necessarily repesent a long term trend (seasonal, annual, or decadal) trends
Change obderved at a specific porfile loaction do not necessarily reprent overall changes at an entire beach
at a few locations the profile starting points has changed over time, this can lead to some graphs shwoing unusually large offsets of the profiles that do not represnt beach erosion or accretion
recorded beach profil data should not be the only source of data used to determine bach managment actions
