A Step-by-Step Guide to Carrying Out Fieldwork

This section provides a step-by-step guide on how to carry out fieldwork studies in GCSE Geography. Fieldwork is a crucial component of geographical studies, offering students a hands-on approach to investigating geographical concepts. To ensure that fieldwork is conducted effectively and safely, it is important to carefully plan each stage. This guide provides a step-by-step overview of the fieldwork process.

Formulating an Enquiry

Fieldwork in geography revolves around formulating an enquiry, a clear question that you aim to answer through your research and data collection. The enquiry provides a focus for your study, guiding what data needs to be collected and how it will be interpreted.

What are the different types of enquiry?

An enquiry can take the form of a question or a hypothesis (which is a statement that can be tested). Enquiries can be broadly divided into two categories:

• Physical Enquiries: These relate to natural features or processes in the environment. For example, a physical enquiry could involve investigating the characteristics of a river, such as its speed, depth, and flow rate. A typical example of a physical enquiry might be, "How does the velocity of a river change along its course?"
• Human Enquiries: These focus on the impact of human activities on the environment or the way people interact with space. For instance, you might investigate how urban areas are structured, or how tourism affects a particular area. An example of a human enquiry could be, "What impact has tourism had on the local economy of a coastal resort?"

Both types of enquiries require different methods of data collection. For example, in a study on rivers (a physical enquiry), you may need to take measurements such as river velocity or bedload characteristics. In a human enquiry on tourism, you might collect survey responses or conduct interviews with local business owners.

How to Plan Fieldwork

Once the enquiry question is defined, the next step is to plan how the fieldwork will be carried out. This involves determining what data needs to be collected, how to collect it, and what tools or instruments are required.

Planning the Data Collection

For example, if your enquiry question is related to the velocity of a river, you will need to plan how to measure the speed of the water at different points along the river. Tools such as a flowmeter or a simple floating object could be used. You may also need to record additional factors, like depth and width, which are important for understanding the river's flow.

For a human enquiry, such as investigating the effects of tourism on a village, you may plan to gather data by conducting surveys, taking photographs, and making observational notes on visitor numbers or changes in infrastructure.

Example:

• If you were studying a river's velocity, you might hypothesise that the river flows faster near its source compared to its mouth. In this case, your data collection might involve using a flowmeter at various points, measuring the river's depth, and recording the gradient of the riverbed.

Selecting Equipment and Clothing

Before going out into the field, ensure that you have the correct equipment for the tasks ahead. If you are measuring river flow, this may include items like a flowmeter, tape measure, or waders. If you're working in a city, you might need a camera, notebook, or survey forms.

Additionally, consider what clothing is appropriate for the environment and weather conditions. For example, if you’re collecting data in a rural area near a river, you might need waterproof clothing and sturdy boots to protect against muddy or slippery conditions.

Risk Assessments

Fieldwork can often involve potential risks, especially when working in outdoor environments or busy urban areas. To ensure safety, a risk assessment must be carried out before undertaking any fieldwork.

Identifying Risks

A risk assessment helps to identify possible hazards and find ways to minimise them. For example, if you are working by a river, you may need to be cautious about fast-flowing water or slippery riverbanks. If you're surveying in a city, you may need to consider traffic hazards or high-crime areas.

Managing Risks

A good risk assessment not only identifies potential dangers but also provides solutions. For example, if you're working near a river, it may be necessary to always have a colleague with you to ensure safety. Additionally, you might set clear boundaries for how close to the water you can go and ensure everyone is wearing suitable footwear.

In urban areas, a risk assessment might involve avoiding high-crime areas, carrying minimal equipment, and being aware of traffic when conducting surveys.

Example of a Risk Assessment in Action:

• Risk: Slipping on wet riverbanks.
  • Mitigation: Wear non-slip footwear and use walking poles for extra stability.
• Risk: Exposure to sun or adverse weather.
  • Mitigation: Bring sunscreen, wear hats, and take regular breaks in shaded areas.

Collecting Data

Once you're in the field, it's time to collect your data. Be methodical and consistent in your approach to ensure that the data is reliable and valid.

Example:

For a physical geography study on river velocity, you may take measurements of water flow at different intervals along the river, using the same equipment and techniques each time. For human geography fieldwork, you might distribute surveys to a set number of people, ensuring that your sample size is large enough to be statistically significant.

Accuracy and Reliability

It is important to record data accurately, ideally double-checking measurements or asking others to confirm readings. If data is inconsistent, it may be necessary to repeat measurements or try a different method.

Processing and Analysing Data

Once you have collected your data, the next step is to analyse it. This involves organising the data in a way that allows you to identify patterns, trends, or relationships that can help answer your enquiry question.

For example, if you were studying river velocity, you might create a graph showing how velocity changes at different points along the river. This allows you to visualise trends, such as whether the river flows faster closer to its source.

Carrying out fieldwork requires thorough planning, careful execution, and effective data analysis. By formulating a clear enquiry question, planning your equipment and methodology, assessing risks, and collecting reliable data, you will be able to investigate geographical phenomena in a structured and meaningful way.