Coastal Fieldwork

Question 1

What is the research question of your fieldwork investigation?

Answer 1

To what extent does coastal managment impact coastal processes at Al Hamraya Beach?

Question 2

Explain why your reserch question was suitble for your geographical investigation…

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Explain how you identified you research question for your fieldwork investigation…

Answer 3

• 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)

Question 4

Explain how you used secondary research in your geographical investigation…

Answer 4

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

Question 5

What is a pilot survey?

Answer 5

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

Question 6

Advantages of a pilot survey

Answer 6

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

Question 7

Disadvantages of a pilot survey

Answer 7

Additional time and resources

Small sample size - not the whole picture

potential bias - not a representative of the larger population

Question 8

What is sampling?

Answer 8

A shortcut method for investigating a whole population

Question 9

What is systematic sampling?

Answer 9

A method of selecting a sample from a larger population in regular, orgered way. this means choosing every nth item along a transit line

Question 10

Advantages of systematic sampling

Answer 10

Straight forward (then ransom sampling)

Good coverage of the study area

Question 11

Disadvantages of systematic sampling

Answer 11

More biases - as not all members or points have an equal chance of being selected

Many lead to an unrepresentative of a particular pattern

Question 12

What is random sampling?

Answer 12

A sampling method where you uses random number tables to unbiasedly pick sampling locations

Question 13

Advantages of random sampling

Answer 13

can be used with a large population

Avoid biased

simple

Question 14

Disadvantages of random sampling

Answer 14

Logistical challenges: can be difficult in a large or hard to access population

Possible over-representation or under-representation

Question 15

Advantages of Stratified sampling

Answer 15

Representative sample - ensures all subgroups within a population are represented

Increase precision - each group is represented providing more accurate and reliable results

Comparative analysis

Question 16

Disadvantages of stratified sampling

Answer 16

Complexity in implementation

Cost and resources

Risk of misclassification

Sample size management

Question 17

What is stratified sampling

Answer 17

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

Question 18

Explain how you collected the primary data - how do you structure this question?

Answer 18

Sampling- Why? Type?

Method of collecting

Equipment used

Recordinng (how id you do this

Digital photographs

Voice notes and fieldnotes

Question 19

Explain how you used secondary data to support your fieldwork investigation

Answer 19

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

Question 20

Advantages of out Data presentation methods - results and analysis

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Disadvantages of our data presentation methods - results and analysis

Answer 21

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

Question 22

What is data analysis used for?

Answer 22

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

Question 23

Data analysis acronym

Answer 23

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

Question 24

Evaluate how successfully your investigation answered the title or question you chose

Answer 24

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

Question 25

What factors could influence the Reliability of your investigation?

Answer 25

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