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Advanced Higher Geography > Fieldwork Techniques > Flashcards

Fieldwork Techniques Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the First Physical Fieldwork technique?

A
  • Beach Profile/Slope Analysis
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2
Q

What is a Beach Profile/Slope Analysis?

A
  • Measure the length of the beach/slope.
  • This measurement allows us to determine the correct distance in order to carry out systematic sampling
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3
Q

How would we measure the Gradient? (Beach/Slope)

A
  • To measure the gradient, put a ranging pole at the top and place a second ranging pole at first sampling point/visible change in the landscape.
  • Then take a clinometer to measure the gradient - we do this twice for the average.
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4
Q

What other data can be taken? (Beach/Slope)

A
  • Vegetation or Soil Samples can be taken at each sampling point.
  • Vegetation would be collected using random sampling and a quadrat.
  • A soil sample can also be taken (to be analysed at a lab), or a quick soil-type flow chart can be used.
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5
Q

What are the limitations of a Beach/Slope Analysis/Profile?

A
  • Tide times can affect data collected on a beach.
  • Ranging poles have to be held straight to ensure that they do not affect readings.
  • There may be some user error when using the clinometer.
  • It is important to keep the measuring tape held tight to ensure sampling points are accurate.
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6
Q

What is the second physical fieldwork technique?

A
  • Stream Analysis
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7
Q

What is the first process of a Stream Analysis?

A
  • When conducting a stream analysis, you would collect the width of a river using a tape measure.
  • From here we use a systematic sampling strategy to then take the depths across the river using a meter stick.
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8
Q

What is the second process of a Stream Analysis?

A
  • When this depth is collected - you must pick up the first pebble you touch. You can then check this against the roundness index chart and measure the longest axis of the pebble.
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9
Q

What is the third process of a Stream Analysis?

A
  • From here you collect the weather perimeter, using a chain or pushing a measuring tape down the banks and base of the river.
  • We can take velocity at 3 points across the river using a flow meter or a float device.
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10
Q

What are the limitations of a Stream Analysis?

A
  • You need to keep the tape measure tight from bank to bank to get a true width reading.
  • When taking depth, stand upstream and use a wooden measuring stick to ensure that it doesn’t bend to skew the reading
  • Do not place the metre stick on a large rock as this may skew the depth results.
  • When using the roundness index chart - it is subjective.
  • When measuring velocity, the float device may get stuck which may increase the reading.
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11
Q

What is the final physical fieldwork technique?

A
  • Micro-Climate Analysis
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12
Q

What are the processes of a Micro-Climate Analysis? (1)

A
  • A compass should be used to determine North.
  • A wind vane or wind sock should then be used to determine wind-direction.
  • An anemometer should then be used to determine wind speed.
  • You should take several readings to get an average = results more reliable.
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13
Q

What are the processes of a Micro-Climate Analysis? (2)

A
  • Cloud coverage can be taken at each location through using the Okta Scale.
  • You should use a digital or analogue thermometer to measure tempurature.
  • Precipitation is measured using a rain gauge - this is a scaled glass funnel.
  • Readings should be recorded at each location.
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14
Q

What are the limitations of a Micro-Climate Analysis? (1)

A
  • Wind strength can be very hard to measure at ground level.
  • Each temperature reading should be taken at the same height to keep the study standard.
  • A rain gauge should be kept away from anything that may affect readings such as buildings, vegetation, etc.
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15
Q

What are the limitations of a Micro-Climate Analysis? (2)

A
  • Cloud coverage can impact temperature readings.
  • Cloud coverage readings can be subjective and therefore need more than 2 people to give a reading for an average.
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16
Q

What is the First Human Fieldwork technique?

A
  • Environmental Quality Survey
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17
Q

What are the Positives of a EQS?

A
  • EQS can be taken along footpaths over a period of time to identify changes in human impact.
  • It may highlight areas off the path that are regularly visited, as busier areas can mean a lower environmental equality.
  • These can be combined with electric footfall counters to quantify visitor numbers.
  • These can be combined with annotated photographs to visually show the environmental quality.
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18
Q

What are the negatives of an EQS?

A
  • It can be very subjective and it considers people’s personal opinions.
  • A way around this is to get a group to carry out one and take an average of the scores to give a better representation of an area.
  • Too large of a scale allows for too much variation. A smaller source allows for more consist results no a better representation of the area.
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19
Q

What is the second human fieldwork technique?

A
  • A Bipolar Survey
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20
Q

What is a Bipolar Survey?

A
  • A survey where a chosen aspect is rated using polar opposite ratings e.g from -5 to +5.
21
Q

What are the advantages of a Bipolar Survey?

A
  • They’re useful for concepts that have a Bipolar aspect.
  • These are the only surveys where you can add comments, incorporating quantitative and qualitative data.
  • Using a bipolar survey allows you to go ack and compare changes over-time.
22
Q

What are the disadvantages of a Bipolar Survey?

A
  • They are subjective - based on personal opinion.
  • Best to complete as a group so averages can be taken for reliability.
  • It can be difficult to condense emotions down to a number.
23
Q

What is the third human fieldwork technique?

A
  • Perception Study
24
Q

What is a Perception Study?

A
  • Similar to an EQS and Bipolar Survey.
  • However rather than the researcher carrying out the study, it can be given out to the public using a suitable sampling technique to gather opinion.
25
Q

What are the advantages of a perception study?

A
  • Can be carried over-time which allows researcher to go back and compare.
  • Gathers more opinions than just the researcher which means results are more representative of a given area.
  • Can be distributed online so a greater audience can be reached and results are easier to collate and present.
26
Q

What are the disadvantages of a perception study?

A
  • Can be difficult to condense emotions to a number.
  • Usually use a scale from strong disagree/agree, can be difficult for a person carrying out the study to differentiate between the both.
  • Respondents may not feel comfortable giving answers that present themselves in an unfavourable manner.
27
Q

What is the fourth human fieldwork technique?

A
  • an Interview
28
Q

What is an Interview?

A
  • An interview can be conducted after a perception study in order to gain further insights into people’s views about an issue, project or development.
29
Q

What are the advantages of an interview?

A
  • They can be more detailed and flexible than a questionnaire as it allows for respondents to give more open responses, rather than being restricted by tick box answers.
  • Allows to ask additional questions or explore points which have been made.
  • If you start with a few closed questions you put your interviewee at ease and they may open up more as it progresses.
  • If you gain permission, you can record this which allows you to return to the responses at a later date - may help with presenting the info gathered.
30
Q

What are the disadvantages of an interview?

A
  • Can be difficult to arrange an interview, you want to ‘aim’ to interview the top people.
  • Interviews are time-consuming, this limits the amount of responses and data gathered.
31
Q

What is the fifth human fieldwork technique?

A
  • A Questionnaire
32
Q

What is a Questionnaire?

A
  • They’re a common feature of investigations where the opinions of a group, or different groups of people can be gathered.
  • They can be used to obtain information about people themselves, info about patterns + processes or opinions.
  • Stratified Sampling is used.
  • Many of these use a combination of all three.
33
Q

What are the positives of a Questionnaire?

A
  • Gathering primary data which cannot be sourced anywhere else.
  • If you begin with personal questions e.g age, you can compare responses from different groups of people.
  • They can be used in conjunction with other primary or secondary data to strengthen a study.
  • They can be distributed online so a greater audience can be reached - results easier to collate and present.
34
Q

What are the negatives of a Questionnaire?

A
  • People may not be honest with their responses, may be tempted to say what sounds god, or what we want to hear.
  • If there are open questions, people may not write anything, or a limited response, it is time-consuming which can limit the data collected.
  • Questionnaire fatigue - people are fed up of being stopped in the street.
  • Carrying them out face to face can be time-consuming and some people don’t partake in it.
35
Q

What is the sixth human fieldwork technique?

A
  • A Pedestrian Flow
36
Q

What is a Pedestrian Flow?

A
  • A researcher counts the amount of people in an area.
  • Can count it in person through tally-marks over a short period of time and then work out the average, or you can use an Outdoor People Counter (OPC’s) which are electronic.
37
Q

What are the positives of a Pedestrian Flow (OPC’s)? (1)

A
  • OPC’s are constantly collecting data - more accurate.
  • OPC’s will generate a far greater data set compared to researchers and will collect data over a greater period of time.
38
Q

What are the positives of a Pedestrian Flow (OPC’s)? (2)

A
  • Researchers can create multiple categories when collecting data, whereas OPC’s record a count therefore data is easier to analyse.
  • An in-person tally count can be used in conjunction with a questionnaire and an interview which gathers additional primary data and ensures the same group of people are being sampled.
39
Q

What are the negatives of a Pedestrian Flow/OPCS’s?

A
  • OPC’s can only collect raw data, without question.
  • Using field researcher will only collect during sample periods - less accurate.
  • OPC’s suffer technical faults, whilst researchers can make human errors - both have flaws.
  • OPC’s too expensive in short term, particularly if volunteers can be found to collect data by hand.
40
Q

What is the seventh human fieldwork technique?

A
  • A Traffic Survey
41
Q

What is a Traffic Survey?

A
  • Transport surveys can be a useful supporting technique for any rural/urban study, showing connectivity and accessibility to any rural or urban area.
  • This is usually taken with a counter or tally chart, counting the number of vehicles over a period of time in a particular area.
42
Q

What are the positives of a Traffic Survey?

A
  • Different routes to a particular destination could be compared, or various routes into and out of a settlement.
  • Questionnaire information could also be incorporated by surveying the routes that people take and the reasons for their choices.
  • A noise meter may also be used to record decibel readings, that could be combined with an environmental quality survey.
43
Q

What are the negatives of a Traffic Survey? (1)

A
  • When collecting data average numbers of vehicles will be different at different times of the day.
  • Large-scale studies can be time-consuming.
  • People may lose count of tallys, or traffic can be fast-moving therefore data may be inaccurate.
44
Q

What are the negatives of a Traffic Survey? (2)

A
  • An electronic counter calculates traffic only and therefore does not categorise the types of traffic in an area.
  • Data categorisation is subjective therefore again averages may have to be taken to make the data more representative
45
Q

What is the final human fieldwork technique?

A
  • Land-Use Mapping
46
Q

What is Land-Use Mapping?

A
  • This allows you to investigate changes in the form, size, structure and function of settlements over time.
  • You print an OS map of your chosen area then using a colour-coded key, colour your map to classify the different land uses.
47
Q

What are the positives of Land-Use Mapping?

A
  • You can compare your current land use maps with historical maps to show changes over time.
  • Maps can be re-drawn, following fieldwork, or digitised using GIS packages to make a presentation of data clearer.
  • Field sketches could also be drawn, to add additional information about the area that is not directly linked to building use
48
Q

What are the negatives of Land-Use Mapping? (1)

A
  • There may be practical considerations to carrying out investigations over large areas making it very time-consuming.
  • You may not be able to classify buildings from outside and therefore it may lead to gaps in your data collection.
  • Care and thought should go into developing an appropriate land use classification key, to make data collection less subjective, however, a degree of subjectivity is inevitable when determining land use classifications.
49
Q

What are the negatives of Land-Use Mapping? (2)

A
  • Obtaining historical maps can be difficult and costly meaning comparisons over time may not be to be made.
  • Many maps are just street-level view, and consideration needs to be made to the land uses on the second and third floors.

Advanced Higher Geography (3 decks)

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