Paper 1) Coastal fieldwork Flashcards
Primary data
Information that you have collected yourself through fieldwork
-e.g. by measuring something or directly asking somebody a question.
Secondary data
Information that someone else has collected that you will be using to help answer your hypotheses.
-cross reference your results with secondary data to check for accuracy
-use secondary data as part of your results in order to form conclusions.
Qualitative data
Data that is non-numerical
-e.g. photos or open responses on a questionnaire
Quantitative data
Numerical data associated with measurements
Random sampling
When a calculator is used to select numbers at random to choose sample sites for fieldwork study. This reduces bias.
Systematic sampling
Choosing your sampling sites at specific and normally equal intervals
Stratified sampling
Using pre-existing knowledge and understanding of the area of study in order to choose sampling sites
-If studying population you might choose people to answer your questionnaire who fit a category that you have chosen to analyse e.g. I will ask 20 males and 20 females.
Measurement error
The methods chosen to collect the information could be inappropriate for the purpose
-e.g. when measuring the wetted perimeter using a ruler with only cm measurement on it not mm measurements so results are less precise.
Human error
Introducing bias or noting data incorrectly
Procedural error
Errors made during the data collection process through the measurement of instruments and devices.
Reliability definition
If the data is trustworthy
Validity definition
The results that you have collected are insufficient in number and/or depth for the conclusions that you make to be relatable and scaled up to the larger picture.
Representation definition
Whether your project has sufficient integrity to be asking the right questions.
Accuracy definition
For the data to be reliable, the variation within the values must be small. However, there is always some variation in any set of measurement, whatever is being measured.
Reasons for the location of fieldwork enquiry - Cromer beach
-only 2.5 hours from school - allows us to conduct research and travel in the same day
-easily accessible beach - within distance of the coach park
-The North Norfolk coast is eroding at a rapid rate of 1-2ms per year as it is composed of glacial till - we can see coastal erosion take place.
-beach had a number of groynes - we can compare them
-tide went out during the day - we can walk on the beach
Enquiry question
To explore the impact of coastal processes on Cromer beach
Hypotheses to talk about
1: The size of the sediment on Cromer beach gets larger and rounder towards the top of the beach, nearer to the cliff
2: The pebble section of the beach has a higher profile than the sandy section
3: the closer to Cromer Pier the more effective the groyne
1 data collection - sampling
-primary data
-quantitative
-systematic + random
1 data collection - equipment
-quadrat
-Vernier caliper
-50m tape measure
1 data collection- error
-Could’ve purposely picked up certain rocks(bias)
-could’ve been measure inaccurately
-didn’t have a measuring tape to measure out 5m on the day
-was very cold on the day, so some results could have been made up
1 data collection - design
- At intervals of 5 metres along the transect, throw the quadrat on the beach.
- Using the quadrat select 5 pebbles (one in each corner and one from the middle).
- Measure the length of the longest axis in mms of each pebble using callipers
- Also compare each selected pebble to the Powers scale of roundness and give it a rating 1-12.
- If the material is too small to measure, record it as sand.
- Repeat this process every 5 metres along the transect.
1 Data presentation - type
Plotted a graph of distance up the beach in the x axis, against the size of rocks in the y-axis
1 Data presentation - results
-On average, there are smaller sediment closer to the sea. Nearer the coast, the sediment was larger.
-Lot of anomalies but there was still a general trend
1 Data presentation - potential improvements
-plot one graph on the length of the pebble and another on how round and angular the pebbles are along the beach transect. The two graphs can be placed one above the other, to aid comparison.
-This shows the results more accurately as we don’t need to take the average of their angularity and size to plot one graph