4.2 Fieldwork: Plan, carry out and evaluate geographical investigations.

Planning Your Investigation

1. Define the question: What do you want to find out? Example: “How does rainfall vary across the city?” 🌧️
2. Choose a method: Survey, experiment, observation, or modelling. Pick the one that fits your question.
3. Design the protocol: Decide on sample size, location, time of day, and tools (e.g., rain gauge, GPS). 📏
4. Consider ethics: Get permission, respect privacy, and minimise environmental impact.
5. Plan for data: Create a data sheet or digital form. Use tables to keep things tidy.

Carrying Out the Investigation

• Follow your protocol step by step.
• Record observations accurately: date, time, weather conditions, and any anomalies.
• Take photos or videos for visual evidence (if allowed).
• Check your equipment regularly to avoid errors.
• Stay safe: wear appropriate clothing and follow local guidelines.

Evaluating Your Investigation

After collecting data, it’s time to analyse and reflect:

1. Analyse the data: Use simple statistics. For example, calculate the mean rainfall:

$\bar{x} = \frac{1}{n}\sum_{i=1}^{n} x_i$

2. Plot graphs (bar charts, line graphs) to visualise trends.
3. Check for errors or outliers. Were there any unexpected spikes?
4. Relate findings back to the original question. Did the data answer it?
5. Reflect on the methodology: What worked? What could be improved?

1️⃣ Understand the Question

Read carefully. Identify keywords like plan, carry out, evaluate.

2️⃣ Use the 5‑Step Process

Show your answer in the order: Plan → Carry out → Evaluate. Use bullet points or short sentences.

3️⃣ Include Relevant Terminology

Terms like sampling, bias, accuracy, precision, data collection add depth.

4️⃣ Show Simple Calculations

Even a quick mean or percentage change demonstrates analytical skills.

5️⃣ Use Examples or Analogies

Relate to everyday life: “Planning a field trip is like planning a fieldwork investigation.”