AQA Geography Geog2

Contents
1. The skillset for GEOG2
2. What can you expect to be asked on GEOG2
3. Some answers to show you how it might be done?
4. A summary of the presentation techniques
GEOG2

GEOG2 QUESTION 2 – THE
ENQUIRY PROCESS
GEOG2 qu.2
AIM
Sub
hypothesis
Data
collection
Data
Presentation
Analysis
Results &
Conclusions
Risk
Assessment
Location Theory

THE ENQUIRY PROCESS
Some Advice
Specifically use the fieldwork practice in GEOG2 Question 2
o Use clear evidence that you have experienced the investigative process e.g. detail
of sampling techniques used, names of locations where sampling took place etc
o The assumption must be that you have not just undertaken the fieldwork but that
you will have written it up – in the interests of the subject we will forgo a formal
write up stage.
The Personal Fieldwork Investigation has the following task:
“....investigation of a geographical argument, assertion, hypothesis, issue or problem..”
The stages of the “Enquiry Process”
1. The “aim”, “research question” or “hypotheses”
The “aim” is what you are trying to achieve overall in your fieldwork location. This will
depend on the time, environmental conditions, equipment and risk assessment. The
“hypothesis” is a statement and more significantly the “null hypothesis” is a statement the
highest quality of statement to form at the base of an investigation.

1. THE “AIM”, “RESEARCH
QUESTION” OR “HYPOTHESES”
For any Investigation there will always be a;
“Locational Context” that pertains to the area within which the study is to take
place and a
“Theoretical Context” That refers to the theory base of the investigation. It is
important to recognise all potential sources of data on ether of these themes. This
must include and range from GIS to personal visits.
From the outset is important that
Risk Assessment has featured heavily in the planning of the investigation. All
Risk Assessments follow the same sequence:
• Recognition of hazard
• Recognition of Risk
• Development of Risk mitigation strategies
After recognising every potential risk and assessment should be done of the likely
impact of the risk and the likelihood of the event occurring. Then a mitigation
strategy needs to be developed.

2. METHODOLOGY AND DATA
COLLECTION
To attempt any answering or refuting of assertions requires the gathering of
data. As it is (usually) impossible to gather the full set of data from anywhere
(the “population”) sampling must feature at the beginning of this stage.
The sampling techniques that could be considered: Random, Systematic,
Stratified or Clustered ( a form of stratification). You will need to explain the
pros and cons of the technique used relative to the others. In addition any
technique must be piloted.

2. METHODOLOGY AND DATA
COLLECTION
There is no excuse for not knowing in detail the reasons for everything that
has been done to gather information.

3. DATA PRESENTATION
The simple aim of all data presentation is to allow trends and patterns to be
seen. This should also through up anomalies that may be of more
importance as they often yield significant geographical issues.
Principles for this section:
• Variety of appropriate forms
• Differentiate between cartographic or graphical methods as the most
suitable
• Annotated photographs have great value – be able to explain why.
• Excel, repeated use of “Chart Wizard” leads to inappropriate masses of
graphs that may have limited value
• Quantitative and Qualitative techniques are always to be used
• Integrate the presentation in with the analysis – an improvement on a
“Data Presentation” section

4. RESULTS AND ANALYSIS
Collation is the first stage – look at everything and look again. Draw simple
conclusions from each piece of data presentation. The highest level skill is to
make links between data sets.
Find and state patterns, relationship and clear anomalies.
Be able to refer how ICT can have helped such as using multi-layering of
maps to show relationships. This of course is taken one step further with
layers in GIS such as Google Earth.
Be able to comment on the use of GIS in the exam.
Fully complete any statistical test to include significance testing. Always refer
back to the original questions, aims, hypotheses etc. Evaluate the results with
relation to any geographical theory that may be pertinent.
KNOW YOUR SPEARMAN, LOVE SIGNIFICANCE “Without significance,
statistical coefficients are lost in the garden of maths.”

5. CONCLUSION AND EVALUATION
Draw all threads together, make a final summative statement to all questions
and to any over-arching hypotheses or aim. Indicate what you would do next
to develop the work further, evaluate the strengths and weakness of the
techniques that have been used.
Evaluate what has been done from the original aim through the method of
data collection to the data presentation skills.

STARTING POINT
• Outline the aim and describe the theory, idea or concept from which your
aim was derived.
• Explain the geographical concept, process or theory that underpinned your
enquiry.
• Outline one source of information that you used and assess the extent to
which it was "fit for purpose".
• Explain how you devised your aim and how you responded to the risks
associated with your chosen site for fieldwork .
• Describe the location of your fieldwork and explain why it was suitable for
your investigation.
WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT TO BE
ASKED ON GEOG2

METHODS
• Outline and justify one method of data collection that you used.
• Examine the limitations of your chosen methodology.
• Outline one hypothesis and describe one methodology for primary data
collection in relation to this.
• How did you respond to risks associated with undertaking primary data
collection?
• Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the method of data collection.
• Justify the use of sampling in your study.
ASKED ON GEOG2

SKILLS
• Describe one method used to present your data.
• Describe one application of ICT skills in carrying out your fieldwork and
comment on its usefulness.
• Describe and illustrate one technique you used to present data in this
enquiry.
• What difficulties did you face when presenting your results?
• Describe a method of presentation that you used in your investigation and
indicate how the chosen method was useful.
• Justify the use of one data presentation technique used in your study.
ASKED ON GEOG2

INTERPRETATION
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of the analysis technique(s)
that you used?
• Outline and justify the use of one or more techniques used to statistically
analyse your results
• Name one technique of data analysis and describe how it was used
• What is meant by the term 'significance' in the analysis of fieldwork data?
• In the context of the analysis of fieldwork data, outline the meaning of
'anomalies' .
• Account for the use of statistics in your enquiry
ASKED ON GEOG2

CONCLUSIONS
• How far did your fieldwork conclusions match the geographical theory,
concept or idea on which your study was based.
• Summarise your findings and suggest how this enquiry could be improved.
• Making specific reference to your results, suggest how your enquiry could
be improved.
• In what ways would your conclusions be of use to other people?
• Drawing upon your findings, explain how your enquiry improved your
understanding of the topic area.
ASKED ON GEOG2

Outline the aim and describe the theory, idea or concept from which
your aim was derived.
The aim of our investigation was „To investigate the changes in channel
characteristics along the river Tillingbourne.‟ The aim was created in relation
to both a location context and theoretical context. Firstly the location context,
the river Tillingbourne is the highest river in Southern England therefore it
was decided that it would be a good area to challenge the theoretical context
as due to its length it would be possible to have a large sample size .
The theoretical context was that of Bradshaw‟s model, this predicts that as a
river progresses downstream its channel characteristics and morphology do
change, with velocity and hydraulic radius increasing but gradient decreasing .
SOME ANSWERS TO SHOW YOU
HOW IT MIGHT BE DONE?

Explain how you devised your aim and how you responded to the risks associated
with your chosen site for fieldwork.
The aim of our investigation was „To investigate the changes in channel characteristics
along the river Tillingbourne.‟ The aim was created in relation to both a location context
and theoretical context. Firstly the location context, the river Tillingbourne is the highest
river in Southern England therefore it was decided that it would be a good area to challenge
the theoretical context as due to its length it would be possible to have a large sample size.
The theoretical context was that of Bradshaw‟s model, this predicts that as a river
progresses downstream its channel characteristics and morphology do change, with velocity
and hydraulic radius increasing but gradient decreasing.
Before the fieldwork, three steps were taken, recognition of possible risks was discussed
and a list of possible hazards was obtained, these hazards were given both a severity rating
and likely hood rating from 0-10 based on the locational context, these ratings were then
produced and the risks were ranked in accordance with them. Thirdly a mitigation
procedure was created in order to minimise or avoid and possible risk. In our case Weils
disease was both sever and likely so it was high up the list. Therefore we wore gloves and
did not eat or drink the water and sanitary towels were brought along .

Outline one source of information that you used and assess the extent to
which it was “fit for purpose”.
One source of information was secondary sources that were taken from other
groups exploring the same theoretical context in the same locational context, the
river Tillingbourne. Therefore these sources focussed upon the same factors as
our enquiry, velocity, gradient and hydraulic radius. These secondary sources were
incorporated into the samples we took in order to increase sample size.
These sources were fit for purpose as they focussed on the same factors as ours,
so they could be analysed in the same way, also their methodology was the same as
he one used in our enquiry which meant that they two data sets were comparable.
However, the time context of the secondary sources were unknown, this meant
that the river may have been at a different base level and therefore have a different
wetted perimeter as well as a different velocity. This would have meant that the
two data sets, primary and secondary, were incompatible as they were not
effectively measuring the same stream .

Outline and justify one method of data collection that you used
One method of data collection used was the use of a Hydroprop, an
instrument comprising of an impellor and a hard brass bolt, this was placed
4cm into the river at three periodically sampled points along the cross section
of the river. When the hydroprop was in position it was timed to see how long
it took for the water to move the impellor from one end of the fixed length
brass bolt to the other, this data was then compared against the secondary
data table in order to attain the actual velocity of the water. This method can
be justified as it is reliable, as it can be repeated several times as it can be at a
fixed depth and the brass bolt is of a constant length it is accurate as the
propellor is specifically created to precise dimensions and so is the bolt to
always give accurate results when compared to the table, it is precise as the
table shows velocity to 2 decimal places. Also it is quick and easy which were
useful considering time constraints .

Examine the limitations of chosen methodology.
Unfortunately the hydroprop method suffers from its locational context in relation to the
river, if the river carries a large load or if there are many other persons working on the river at
the same period of time as this method is used, sediment carried, perhaps in suspension, by
the river is likely to get trapped between the plastic propellor and the brass bolt, this serves to
nullify the method as an accurate one as it will cause a higher resistance and therefore an
underestimate when compared against the calibration curve which has been constructed upon
the false assumption that the propeller is almost restriction free. Another limitation of the
technology is the difficulty of always finding the thalweg within the river‟s horizontal plane.
This piloted area which would yield the most accurate results is almost impossible to find
reliably on repeated occasions. This creates a false area of accuracy and it may be piloted that
it would be better to agree on a fixed depth rather than the thalweg. A limitation of the
methodology is the fragility and the difficulty to set up of the instrument itself. In order to set
the hydroprop up to considerable skill and it was easy to mis-assemble the apparatus; this
would lead to a false result as it would not be comparable to the calibration curve. The
methodology also relies on the data given on the instrument, the calibration curve, as this is
not tested directly by the user, this may be incorrect and may be providing false information,
and this would falsify the experiment .

How did you respond to risks associated with undertaking primary data
collection?
Before fieldwork had begun, three separate steps were taken in order to minimise and
if possible remove risks associated with the primary data collection. The first step was
the recognition of potential hazards and these were compiled into a list of every hazard
that could possibly befall the team as data was collected. Secondly, the chance of the
occurrence of these risks was analyzed and each risk was given a level of 1-10
according to how likely this hazard was to occur. Thirdly, the impact and severity of the
risk was taken into account and again given a level of 1-10 depending on how severe
the risk would potentially be if it occurred. These two levels were then multiplied and
the list was prioritised accordingly. A mitigating procedure was then developed in order
to reduce the risk as far as possible focussing primarily on those whose product had
been high and therefore prioritised. An example of a risk in the river was Weil‟s disease;
this is both severe, with possible death and a high likelihood and therefore was
prioritised highly. Our mitigating procedure included not eating and drinking near the
river, washing hands after contact with river and wearing gloves in order to minimise
contact with water .

Describe a method of presentation that you used in your investigation and
indicate how the chosen method was useful.
A method of presentation used to illustrate the results was the scatter graph, the
presentation method involved creating two sets of axis, taking the independent variable
of distance down stream on the x-axis and plotting the data for velocity, gradient and
hydraulic radius on the y-axis which theory tells us will be dependent on the distance,
this allows us to see readily, whether or not there is a correlation present in the data that
appears to fit with the Bradshaw model. This created a graph which indicated vital
factors about the results. These included: maximum/minimum, averages (mean, medium
and mode) and anomalies. The scatter graph is useful as it can quickly indicate these
above factors as they can easily be located, for example it was clear on the gradient
scatter graph that the maximum was at the upper course and the minimum was at the
lower course of the river. Also a best fit line can be created upon the diagram in order
to formalise the graph and allow the trend to be seen clearer, in all these cases, our trend
lines behaved according to Bradshaw‟s model. This trend can then be statistically tested
using spearman‟s rank theorem in order to remove chance from the trend. This allows
trends to be proved upon the data set .

What difficulties did you face when presenting your results?
A difficulty associated with the usage of scatter graphs as an instrument to present
our data is the uncertainty that comes with the usage of best fit lines. The line of
best fit can either be linear or a curve, it is important that the correct line is used in
order to portray the correct image, as if the wrong line were to be used then a false
conclusion could be created. On an even more basic level, whether it is possible to
create a best fit line at all is debatable, often data has a vague trend spoilt by outliers
and anomalies, therefore it is uncertain whether the trend is significant enough to
have a best fit line, it was tempting to create one that would agree with Bradshaw‟s
model, however, this might invalidate our results and lead us to the wrong
conclusions. Our solution to this problem was to test each scatter graph according to
spearman‟s rank theory, we pre-decided a significance level that would be necessary in
order to create a best fit line, a significance of 85%, this then gave us a critical value
and if passed we created a best fit line .

Describe one application of ICT skills in carrying out your fieldwork and
comment on its usefulness
ICT skills were used in the overlaying of data upon GoogleEearth. Scatter graphs
and data were overlaid on Google Earth to create a layer upon the satellite image of
the river Tillingbourne. Each result set was linked to the exact location where it was
gathered. This allowed the trends to be shown even more substantially as the
locational context could be viewed easily and any anomalies could be examined and
it was possible to search for factors which could have contributed to their
anomalous nature. However, there were some problems associated with this
application; often the images were out of date as the satellite producing the images
had not passed over the particular location in the recent update. This could lead to
false conclusion stemming from mis-information. An example of this would be
where the river was recently straightened by the local council and therefore the river
had a higher discharge than would have been expected from the satellite image.
Also whose land was not shown; this could lead to problems associated with
sampling as it could not be taken into consideration, this could lead to false
sampling methods .

What are the advantages and disadvantages of the analysis technique
used?
The analysis technique used in this context was the Spearmen‟s rank technique
coupled with significance testing. The advantages of this analysis technique
were that it was possible to negate chance as a factor for the trends seen, it
allows a comparison between data sets (eg velocity and gradient) as to their
degree of certainty and it also is easy and quick to perform as a statistical test.
The disadvantages of the technique are the need for a large sample size in
order to gain an accurate result, it offers no explanation for the pattern shown
and it pays no regard to the magnitude of the values used .

Outline and justify the use of one or more technique used to statistically analyse
your results
The statistical analysis technique used was the Spearman‟s rank analysis coupled with
significance testing. The scatter graph is first needed and a line of best fit created. The
values are then ranked according to the two variables, both the distance from the source (1
to 10) and the velocity, gradient or hydraulic radius ranked also (from 1 to 10). The ranks
not the variables are then used in the equation 1-(6(SUM)d^2)/n(n^2 – n) this generates a
number which when compared against the sample size of the assessment forms a
significance rating which if over 90% (the decided level) can eliminate the effects of chance
from the trend seen .
This method can be justified as it is accurate, as it is a statistical method and can be as
precise as needed as the critical significance rating can be chosen according to the context.
Also the rating is very useful as it can be remove chance in the assessment of the
relationship between the two variables. One of the most significant advantages of this
technique is its ease to use; this allowed the analysis to be quicker and easier .

How far did your fieldwork conclusions match the geographical theory
concept or idea on which your study was based?
The geographical theory being tested in this assessment is Bradshaw‟s model, that
the characteristics of the river change as the river progresses downstream. After
presenting and analysing the data it has been concluded that the data does match the
Bradshaw model and that the data sets are linked. As the distance from the source
increases, so does the velocity as well as the hydraulic radius although this is
expected as they are linked, as velocity increases so do erosion rates, therefore larger
channel areas.
However, the data does not completely agree with the Bradshaw model, both the
velocity (only 85% significant) and gradient (only 70%) do not fully agree with the
model. This could be due to the poor and unreliable technique of the cork method
and the land use in the locational context. This has meant they do not agree with the
theoretical context.
However, the aim has been fulfilled, to investigate whether the data agrees with the
Bradshaw model .

Summarise your findings and suggest how this enquiry could be improved
The aim of the enquiry was to „investigate the changes in the river Tillingbourne as it progressed
downstream‟. Our enquiry measured the following values as the river progressed downstream:
velocity, gradient and hydraulic radius. The summary of these findings were that they all behaved
exactly as the theoretical context, Bradshaw‟s model, predicted, velocity increased from 1m/s to
20m/s , the gradient decreased from 3 degrees to 0.4 degrees and the hydraulic radius increased
from 0.2 to 0.8. However, the trends were not all without chance, as the gradient change trend was
only 80% certain and the velocity was 83%, so not past our decided critical significance percentage,
85%.
The enquiry could have been improved, in terms of primary data, if there had been a less limited
time context then more repeats could have taken place, this would have increased the sample size in
spearman‟s rank therefore decreasing the impact of outliers, such as velocity of 0.1m/s in site 4.
Another improvement would have been availability of more sites, as locational context of private
land and therefore legislation hindered our sampling method and prevented a periodic method, if
we had a better access to land results would have been les clustered.
In terms of secondary data, it would have been useful if access to the dates and context of the
secondary data had been available, so that the results were not influenced by the time context at
which the secondary data was taken. It would also have been useful if more secondary data had
been available which would have increased the sample size of our spearman‟s rank .

A SUMMARY OF THE
PRESENTATION TECHNIQUES

AQA Geography Geog2

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