Aims, Sampling, Equipment & Risk Assessment
Urban Environment Fieldwork Enquiry
- To undertake the urban fieldwork enquiry there are a range of practical skills and methods will be used
- These can apply to any urban fieldwork
- The fieldwork enquiry should be linked to geographical theory
- In the urban fieldwork enquiry the theories of the changes in urban land use and sustainability
Aims and Hypothesis
- The aims and hypothesis come from the questions asked about the change in urban environments such as:
- How does the quality of the urban environment vary along a transect?
- What impact on the urban environment does the building of a new housing estate/road/industrial estate have?
- How has the land use on the urban fringe changed?
- Examples of an aim would be:
- An investigation into the environmental impact of a new road/housing estate/business park in the city of Y
- An investigation into changes in land use on the urban-rural fringe of the city of X
- An investigation into environmental quality from the CBD to the urban fringe in the city of W
- Hypotheses are statements that are tested through fieldwork
- An example of a hypothesis would be:
- Environmental quality improves with distance from the CBD
- A null hypothesis is a statement that is opposite to a hypothesis
- This ensures there is no bias when collecting the evidence
- You are not ignoring evidence because it doesn't prove the statement
- If you cannot prove the statement then the opposite must be true
- Examples of a null hypothesis would be:
- Environmental quality does not improve with distance from the CBD
- This ensures there is no bias when collecting the evidence
- After the aims and hypothesis have been established the next steps are to:
- Select the sites - this will involve sampling
- Decide on the equipment to be used
- Consider health and safety issues - complete a risk assessment
- Data collection methods to be used
Worked example
State the title of your geographical enquiry.
Explain one reason why this title was suitable for your geographical enquiry (2)
- Award 1 mark for identifying a reason and a further expansion mark up to a maximum of 2 marks
- The title was both manageable and achievable. (1). Meaning that our primary data could be designed to fully answer the title set (1)
- The urban model allowed us to test a theory (1), so the title and focus were established to challenge the assumptions in the model (1)
- It was linked to a place close to school (1). Therefore, the data we collected would help answer the initial question set (1)
Site Selection and Sampling
- It is not practical to take measurements or look at changes in all parts of the urban environment
- To select sites sampling should be used
- True sampling will:
- Reduce bias
- Provide an overview of the whole
- There may be situations where access to the sample site may be limited meaning an opportunistic approach may need to be taken
- However, this should be as close as possible to the site selected using sampling
- The most commonly used sampling strategies for urban environment enquiries are:
- Systematic - a sampling of sites/people at regular intervals along a transect line
- Random - all sites have an equal chance of being selected
- Stratified - sampling sites which represent the whole
- If 10% of the population is over 65 then 10% of a questionnaire sample should be over 65
- Site location can be recorded using GPS to give an accurate location using latitude and longitude
- Use of grid reference and compass points can also be used
Worked example
State one type of sampling you used in your geographical enquiry (1)
- Answer: Award 1 mark for any of the following:
- Systematic (1)
- Stratified (1)
- Random (1)
- Pragmatic (1)
- Opportunistic (1)
- Accept any other appropriate response
- Note: Title not required for credit
Explain one way this sampling technique helped you to collect reliable data or information (2)
- Answer: Award 1 mark for a reason further mark for extension through explanation, up to a maximum of 2 marks:
- It allowed find out about the spatial variation in the area of study (1) so that we knew that we would get good spatial coverage to minimise bias (1)
- Stratified sampling was used as we had census data about the town's population (1) so we could design a fair sampling frame for the questionnaire about urban change that we were using (1)
- Accept any other appropriate response, e.g. asking “different people” is allowable
Equipment
- To complete the urban environments enquiry a range of equipment is needed
- The equipment needed may include the following:
- Record sheets
- Interview Sheets
- Pencil for completing recording sheets
- Camera to take photographs of land use
- Digital noise meter
- Environmental Quality Surveys
- Maps
Risk Assessment
- Any fieldwork will involve consideration of health and safety using a risk assessment
- Risks specifically associated with urban environment fieldwork may include:
- Weather conditions
- Working in an unfamiliar place
- Traffic
- Getting lost
- Speaking to strangers
- Pollution
- Cars
Worked example
Explain one way you could manage risk during fieldwork in a regenerated urban area (3)
- Answer: Award 1 mark for a correct suggested way to manage risk, with a further 2 marks for expansion:
- Remain alert (1) to ensure awareness of traffic (1) to prevent accidents (1)
- Wear appropriate clothing (1) to ensure remain comfortable during fieldwork (1) and reduce the chance of illness (1)
- The uneven ground in urban areas poses a risk of slipping or falling (1) appropriate footwear (1) with good tread for grip (1)
- Work in groups (1) to ensure safety (1) against unexpected events (1)
