Unit 3B - Fieldwork - Key terms

Question 1

What is quantitive data with an example from your own data collection?

Answer 1

Data that can be measured, e.g. % vegetation cover

Question 2

What is qualitative data with an example from your own data collection?

Answer 2

Data that can be observed, not measured, e.g. asking opinions on a questionnaire (e.g. do you think tourism is good or bad for Seahouses’ economy and why?)

Question 3

What is primary data with an example?

Answer 3

Data that has been collected by you, e.g. % vegetation cover

Question 4

What is secondary data with an example?

Answer 4

Data that has been collected by someone else and has been processed, e.g. Northumberland Market Town Survey 2009

Question 5

Why is sampling needed?

Answer 5

Sampling is used as its impossible to sample a whole area or system. It saves time, allows a representation of area or system to be sampled an removes human bias

Question 6

What is random sampling?

Answer 6

When there is no system and the factor is sampled randomly

Question 7

What is systematic sampling?

Answer 7

When there is a clear system for sampling, e.g. every 20 metres or only people under 18 yrs old

Question 8

What is stratified sampling?

Answer 8

Based on knowing something in advance about population or area in question. For example, if you’re surveying attitudes of locals to opening of a supermarket, your sample must reflect age distribution of locals.