What is Question 4?
You receive exam-provided data from a hypothetical student's fieldwork (NOT your own) and answer questions testing whether you can apply fieldwork skills to an unfamiliar scenario.
What the exam provides:
- - Tables of raw data
- - Graphs/maps/photographs
- - Sketches or diagrams
- - Description of fieldwork context/location
- - The student's research question/hypothesis
What you must do:
- - Analyze the provided data
- - Identify sampling methods used
- - Complete partial graphs/tables
- - Spot anomalies
- - Suggest improvements or limitations
- - Show you understand WHY methods are/aren't appropriate
Fieldwork Investigation Skills: Calculations, data analysis, interpretation, sampling, presentation
Applied Understanding: Justification of WHY methods are appropriate
The 6 Strands: What Can Be Tested
Question 4 can test ANY of these 6 strands. Click each to see typical questions and examples.
Typical Questions:
- -"What was the purpose of this enquiry? [1 mark - AO4]"
- -"Identify one risk in this type of fieldwork [1 mark - AO4]"
- -"Explain how this risk was managed [2 marks - AO3]"
- -"Why is this location suitable for investigating this question? [2 marks - AO3]"
Key Points:
- Physical risks: Slipping on rocks, drowning in rivers, falling on cliffs, hypothermia
- Human risks: Stranger danger in surveys, traffic accidents, confrontation from respondents
- Risk assessment applies to BOTH physical and human fieldwork
Example Question & Answer:
"Identify one potential risk when conducting a questionnaire survey in an urban CBD and explain how it could be managed [3 marks]"
Respondents might feel uncomfortable discussing shopping habits with strangers, creating a safeguarding risk [1 mark]. This could be managed by conducting surveys during busy periods with multiple surveyors present, and carrying identification badges showing school affiliation [1 mark]. Additionally, only asking non-personal questions about shopping patterns rather than income or household details reduces privacy concerns [1 mark].
Sampling Methods - CRITICAL KNOWLEDGE
You MUST understand these 3 main sampling types - they appear in almost every Q4.
Method:
Use random number generator, dice, blindfold pointing
When Used:
Large heterogeneous areas, quantitative studies
Visual Pattern:
Scattered/dispersed points across study area
Advantages:
- + No bias
- + Scientifically sound
- + Representative
Disadvantages:
- - May miss important areas (clustering)
- - Requires full list of population
Example: "To investigate litter distribution across a town, use random number grid to select 20 10x10m squares to survey"
A researcher surveys shoppers by interviewing every 10th person who enters a shopping centre.
Pattern: Person 10, Person 20, Person 30, Person 40...
Data Presentation Methods
Know which method suits which data type - this is commonly tested.
Best for: Continuous data over time/distance
e.g., Temperature changes, river velocity downstream
Best for: Categorical data comparison
e.g., Different land use types, shopping preferences
Best for: Proportions of total
e.g., Percentage of retail types, land use breakdown
Best for: Relationship between 2 variables
e.g., Distance vs litter, age vs shopping frequency
Best for: Frequency distribution
e.g., Height ranges, income bands
Best for: Spatial distribution
e.g., Graffiti locations, vegetation types
Best for: Regional variation
e.g., Air quality by district, house prices by postcode
Best for: Movement/direction
e.g., Pedestrian flows, migration patterns
Statistical Analysis - Must Know Calculations
These calculations appear frequently in Q4. You MUST be able to calculate and interpret them.
Formula: Average (sum ÷ number)
Used for: Central tendency
Formula: Middle value when ordered
Used for: Central tendency (ignores outliers)
Formula: Most frequent value
Used for: Most common category
Formula: Highest - Lowest
Used for: Spread/dispersion
Formula: (Part ÷ Total) × 100
Used for: Proportions
Formula: [(New - Old) ÷ Old] × 100
Used for: Growth/decline
Calculate the mean river velocity from the 5 locations sampled.
Identifying Anomalies
An anomaly is a data point that breaks the expected trend. Practice spotting them!
Distance from CBD vs Shop Rent
A scattergraph showing the relationship between distance from CBD (km) and average shop rent (£/m²)
Expected: Negative correlation - as distance increases, rent decreases
Click on the data point you think is the anomaly:
Typical Mark Distribution
| Question | Marks | Content | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.1 | 1 | Identify sampling method / Calculate simple statistic | AO4 (skill) |
| 4.2 | 1-2 | Name technique / Complete table / Identify anomaly | AO4 (skill) |
| 4.3 | 2 | Describe data pattern / Suggest limitation | AO4 + AO3 |
| 4.4 | 3 | Analyze data / Link variables / Full description | AO4 + AO3 |
| 4.5 | 2-3 | Suggest improvement / Evaluate reliability | AO3 (thinking) |
| TOTAL | 15 | AO4: 12, AO3: 3 | |
Strategy for Answering Q4
- Read entire question and data carefully
- Identify: What is being investigated? Why? Where? How?
- Note: Any pattern you can already see in graphs/tables
- Plan: Rough time per question (~1 min per mark)
- Identify the command word (Identify, Calculate, Describe, etc.)
- Check mark allocation (1 mark = brief, 3 marks = detailed)
- Read the data carefully (wrong numbers = wrong answer)
- Show all working (partial credit possible)
- Use geographical terminology
- Check units (m, kg, %, °C)
Question: "Calculate the percentage of shop types that are independent retailers from Figure 3" [2 marks]
Percentage = (Number of independent ÷ Total shops) × 100
= (45 ÷ 200) × 100
= 0.225 × 100
= 22.5%
Note: Even if your final answer is slightly wrong, you get marks for method shown!
Common Q4 Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake 1: Wrong Sampling Method Identified
Confuse 'random' with 'systematic', forget stratified is DELIBERATE
How to avoid: Random = scattered, Systematic = regular intervals, Stratified = grouped by category
Mistake 2: Incomplete Calculations
Calculate but forget units, don't show working, arithmetic errors
How to avoid: Always show formula, substitution, working, AND units in final answer
Mistake 3: Describing Instead of Analyzing
State 'values increase from 10 to 50' but don't explain WHY
How to avoid: After describing pattern, add 'This is because...' and link to geography
Mistake 4: Missing Anomalies
Don't notice when data point doesn't fit pattern
How to avoid: Scan whole dataset for points that seem 'wrong', suggest plausible explanations
Mistake 5: Not Reading Question Carefully
Calculate wrong statistic, use wrong data, answer different question
How to avoid: Underline key phrases, check which figure to use, verify answer addresses what was asked
Test Your Knowledge
Question 4 is worth how many marks?
Ready for Question 5?
Learn how to write about YOUR OWN fieldwork with confidence and earn maximum marks.