geographical methods (1. how to design fieldwork) Flashcards
what is fieldwork
a systematic approach for us to investigate geographical phenomena and their related issues by applying relevant geographical concepts and skills
what are the 5 stages of fieldwork process
- craft research questions or hypothesis
- collection of data
- analysis of data
- presentation of findings
- conclusion and evaluation
stage 1 of fieldwork process
craft and research question or hypothesis
stage 2 of fieldwork process
collection of data
stage 3 of fieldwork process
analysis of data
stage 4 of fieldwork process
presentation of findings
state 5 of fieldwork process
conclusion and evaluation
how does fieldwork often begin
with a research question or hypothesis
how do we craft a research question or hypothesis
researchers need to first find out more about the topic or a thesis from credible sources such as textbooks, news articles or websites
what is the main difference between a research question and a hypothesis
a research question ends with a question mark (?)
a hypothesis ends with a full stop (.)
definition of research question
a question that outlines a specific scope for investigation related to the topic
definition of hypothesis
a measurable statement consisting of 2 or more variables
when are research questions used
often used when little research exists or the relationships between the variables are uncertain
when are hypotheses used
often used when a large body of research on the topic is available and relationships between the variables are quite certain
number of possible conclusions in a research question
many possible conclusions may be formed at the end of the investigation
number of possible conclusions in a hypothesis
a definite conclusion i’d formed at the end of the investigation
what are 2 things to decide on before collecting data
- type of data to collect
- sequence of data to collect
what are the different types of data
primary and secondary data
quantitative data and qualitative data
primary data
data that is collected firsthand
secondary data
data that was collected by someone else
quantitative data
- data that can be quantified and measured (12345)
-eg. data from a close ended questionnaire survey (questions that offer limited responses)
qualitative data
- data that are not easily measurable and is subjective in nature (abcde)
-eg. open ended responses and semi structured interviews
what are open ended responses
questions that allow participants to give free for. responses, and hence participants are able to express their fullest range of views, preferences or emotions.
what is the sequence of data collection processes
quantitative then qualitative
why is quantitative data collected first followed by qualitative data
quantitative data are collected first to identify patterns and trends
qualitative data are collected subsequently to examine the patterns and trends observed
qualitative data are collected first to
make observations
quantitative data is collected subsequently to
verify the observations
what does a well designed fieldwork consider
all limitations and risks in the investigation
what are the limitations of fieldwork
limitations brought about by research aim, study area, sample size and timeframe my require adjustments in fieldwork depending on the resources available
what are the limitations of fieldwork
limitations brought about by research aim, study area, sample size and timeframe my require adjustments in fieldwork depending on the resources available
researchers make choices about the
aims, methods, sample size and amount of data they must analyse and manage
what practicalities can affect the decisions of researchers
what, where, when and length of fieldwork
why must risks in fieldwork be considered
potential risks in fieldwork depending must be considered to ensure mitigation measures are implemented to avoid harming people and nature
examples of potential risks in fieldwork
fall, cuts, minor injuries
traffic accidents, collision with cyclist
students getting lost
when collecting data, students should not
use responses from people without their express consent
when collecting data, photographs used should be
carefully selected to keep to general scenes instead of signalling out individuals
when collecting data, students should consider
whether data collected will be made anonymous by removing names and any other personal identifiers
when crafting questions for interviews, students should
avoid questions which can cause offence or misunderstanding
this includes questions about religion, gender and income level
what is a pilot survey
a strategy used to test the questionnaire using a smaller sample compared to the planned size.
what are the advantages if a pilot survey
1.to test methodology/ check sample size
2. opportunity to change methodology/ make improvements
3. gain confidence in doing fieldwork/ practice/ gain experience
