Fieldwork
Fieldwork is an approach through which geographical knowledge and skills can be acquired
practically in the field. The field is the major source primary geographical information (data).
Therefore fieldwork involves observation, interpreting what is observed and recording the
relationship on the human and physical environment.
Fieldwork - in Geography is conceived as field of study concerned with the physical and human
landscape in both urban and rural settings and whose teaching must be based on three-fold study
approach namely:
Observation
Recording and interpretation
Making if generalisations based on this approach
Main content and concept to emphasis
1. Preparation for fieldwork
2. The actual fieldwork
3. Follow up activities
4. Geographical significance of fieldwork
5. Geographical relationships.
-Set objectives of the study
-Identify area where to carry out fieldwork
-A pilot study of the fieldwork area
-Determine methods to use in carrying out fieldwork
-The equipment to use
-Permission to carry out fieldwork
Organisational Decisions
-Route plan
-Estimation of time
-What activities to carry out, where and how
-How much time to spend on each activity
-Mark particular areas of interest
-Instructions to give to students
-Essential equipment
-Data to carry out fieldwork.
Different methods (skills) to be used to collect data
Methods (skills) of collecting data.
Direct observation
Map orientation and reading
Recording
Methods of recording include: drawing field sketches like maps, panoramas, transect, filling in
base maps, and filling in tables.
Interviewing, questionnaires note taking.
Pacing.
Sampling.
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METHODS
1. Direct observation (visual observation)
Direct observation is to see and identify patterns and interrelationships.
The method gives opportunity to record what is seen directly.
2. Recording
The information collected must be written down in a systematic and understandable manner. It
involves note taking. Drawing field sketches such as maps, panoramas, transect (cross section),
filling in base maps, filling in tables (tabulating).
Drawing is a way of recording information, it helps students to recognise and describe relief and
land use on the landscape.
Panoramas and transects (cross section) help students to illustrate relationships between altitude,
slopes, soils, vegetation (physical landscape) and land use (human activities).
Sketches must have the following: Title/ Heading, key (man made feature and physical feature),
compass direction.
3. Map orientation and map reading.
With the help of a topographical survey map students relate or compare the map with the actual
landscape. Orienting is using a compass to indicate direction (magnetic note).
What to note.
Students should be able to locate where they are. Find the position (grid reference) direction and
distance, and also recognise how features are represented on the map.
Students work in groups for free discussion and help each other (team work).
Students should understand the language of the map (identify symbols).
Students work from the ground to the map, drawing well-labelled sketches and infilling of maps
related to map reading and orientation.
4. Interviewing, note taking and filling in questionnaires.
Interviewing is when questions are asked to respondents and answers received from them to
obtain information about desired geographical aspect.
What to note.
Method used to collect information, which cannot be obtained by observation, especially the
economic and social factors.
For example:
- Historical background
- Statistical figures
- Problems and solution prospects etc.
These can be obtained by inquiry.
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5. Sampling
A sample may be regarded as a specimen or a small portion of a whole or a bigger population, or
part of the area under study taken to show what the rest is like. E.g it could be a palating of total
population to being interviewed on soil sample, rock type e.t.c
6. Pacing.
This is a method of measuring using one’s stride.
Actual fieldwork (collecting relevant data)
This is the stage of collecting data practically, the students go in the field and apply the
knowledge and methods, identified and discussed in the pre- fieldwork preparations to collect the
geographical data (information) about the area.
Data presentation and Data analysis
Data presentation techniques
1. Bar chart
The x-axis has labels, the y-axis may have numbers. There needs to be a gap between the bars.
2. Percentage bar charts
The x-axis has labels, the y-axis has percentages. There needs to be a gap between the bars. Each
bar is divided up into coloured or shaded sections based on percentages.
3. Divided bar charts
The x-axis has labels, the y-axis has numbers. There needs to be a gap between each of the bars.
The size of each bar shows the total number. Each bar is divided up into coloured or shaded
sections based on percentages.
4. Histogram
The x-axis and y-axis both have numbers. The x-axis is divided into intervals. There are no gaps
between bars.
5. Pie chart
These show the percentage of the total represented in each category. To work out the angle (in
degrees) for each category, calculate percentage x 360.
6. Scattergraph
Use the x-axis for the independent variable and the y-axis for the dependent variable. The
example below, from a rural settlement hierarchy investigation, shows the total population size
of each settlement (the independent variable) on the x-axis, and the number of services in each
settlement (the dependent variable) on the y-axis
7. Kite diagram
These show the change of a percentage over distance. They are most commonly used to show
changes in the percentage cover of plant species along an environmental gradient. The example
below, from a sand dunes investigation, shows changes in the percentage cover of a number of
species with distance inland in a sand dune system in south Wales.
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Data analysis
Analysis of data is a process of inspecting, cleaning, transforming, and modeling data with the
goal of highlighting useful information, suggesting conclusions, and supporting decision making.
Types of data analysis
[Link] data is a number
Numerical data (or quantitative data) is data measured or identified on a numerical scale.
Numerical data can be analyzed using statistical methods, and results can be displayed using
tables, charts, histograms and graphs.
2. Categorical data data one of several categories
In statistics, categorical data is that part of an observed dataset that consists of categorical
variables, or for data that has been converted into that form, for example as grouped data. More
specifically, categorical data may derive from either or both of observations made of qualitative
data
3. Qualitative data
The term qualitative data is used to describe certain types of information. The term is
distinguished from the term quantitative data, in which items are described in terms of quantity
and in which a range numerical values are used without implying that a particular numerical
value refers to a particular distinct category. However, data originally obtained as qualitative
information about individual items may give rise to quantitative data if they are summarised by
means of counts; and conversely, data that are originally quantitative are sometimes grouped into
categories to become qualitative data
