Fieldwork
1. Why do we conduct Fieldwork?
Fieldwork is fundamental to the study of geography – it makes the subject come alive, promotes enthusiasm for geography and motivates students.
Fieldwork is the means by which students can engage and develop a deep understanding of geographical processes and enquiry.
Fieldwork is the means by which students can engage and develop a deep understanding of geographical processes and enquiry.
Fieldwork gives students (both individually and collaboratively) the opportunity to:
- enhance knowledge through observing, mapping, measuring and recording real world phenomena
- explore geographical processes that form and transform environments
- use a range of geographical tools to assist in interpretation and decision-making
- locate, select, organise and communicate geographical information
- explore different perspectives relating to geographical issues.
2. Your Non Examined Assessment (NEA)
AS part of the A-Level you will complete your own independent investigation into a topic of your choice. It will be submitted as a 3000 - 4000 word written report and is worth 70 marks or 20% of qualification. It includes:
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3. What are the four sections of the NEA?
1. Purpose of the Independent Investigation (12 marks)
2. Field Methodologies and Data Collection (10 marks)
3. Data Representation, Analysis, Interpretation and Evaluation of Techniques and Methodologies used (24 marks)
4. Conclusions and Critical Evaluation of the Overall Investigation (24 marks)
- What is your area of study? What’s the theory?
- How does it link to the wider world?
- What do you need to ask in order to effectively investigate this topic?
- Where are you going to study this topic? Why is it relevant?
2. Field Methodologies and Data Collection (10 marks)
- What data are you going to gather to answer your investigation?
- How are you going to gather the data to answer your investigation?
- When and how many times are you going to gather this data?
- Ethical consideration - Have ensured your investigation has minimal impact on the human and physical environment?
- Have you used high levels of accuracy/precision in your data collection?
3. Data Representation, Analysis, Interpretation and Evaluation of Techniques and Methodologies used (24 marks)
- Deconstruct data and present in a range of effective ways including statistical analysis
- Evaluate your methods
- Synthesis your research findings to form rational evidence based conclusions.
- Communicates convincing conclusions that are supported by the clear and technically accurate presentation of relevant fieldwork data or information.
4. Conclusions and Critical Evaluation of the Overall Investigation (24 marks)
- Have you linked your findings to the theory?
- Have you linked your findings to the wider world?
- Have you synthesised your research findings coherently and comprehensively?
- Are your conclusions balanced? Have you used accurate geographical terminology throughout?
- Are your conclusions fully supported by drawing together a selection of relevant data and theory linked to the entire purpose of the investigation.
- Overall, is it a reliable investigation?
4. Useful websites
- FSC Geography Fieldwork - excellent overview website with a range of methods, ideas and considerations for your investigation
- Data Presentation Methods - comprehensive examples of different data presentation methods
- Urban Sampling Methods - help with different sampling techniques
- RGS Sampling Methods - strengths and weaknesses of different sampling techniques
- Statistical analysis - step by step guide to essential statistical analysis
- RGS Statistics guides - worksheets to help with some stats tests
5. Methodology and Fieldwork techniques
As part of your investigation you must collect a range of geographical data. This should be Primary Data (collected yourself e.g. Pedestrian Counts) and Secondary Data (collected by someone else e.g. The Census).
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6. Examples of NEA reports
Here are some examples of NEA reports from the exam board. They include the marks that were awarded for each one.
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