designing fieldwork (chp 3.1)

fieldwork

systematic approach to investigate geographical phenomena and their related issue

5 stages

  1. craft research qns or hypothesis
  2. collection of data
  3. analysis of data
  4. presentation of findings
  5. conclusion and evaluation

how may a research qns or hypothesis be crafted

involves:

  1. identifying a topic or thesis from credible sources like new articles, tb and websites
  2. crafting

research qns: qns that outlines a specific scope for investigation related to the topic

often used where little research exists or the relationships between the variables are certain

inquisitive in nature

many possible conclusions may be formed at the end of the investigation

hypothesis: measurable statement consisting 2 or more variables

often used when large body of research on the topic is available and relationships between the variables are quite certain

predictive in nature

definite conclusion is formed at the end of the investigation

types of data

data must be collected to ans research qns or test hypothesis

before collecting, there is a need to decide on the type

types of data: both primary and secondary data can be collected and used as evidence

primary data are data collected first-hand

e.g. photos and sketches, responses from closed-ended questionnaire surveys

secondary data: data collected by someone else

e.g. books and newspaper articles, journals and maps produced by other authors

data can be classified into:

quantitative data is data that can be quantified and measured

qualitative data is data that are not easily measurable and are subjective in nature

e.g. responses from mcq survey

e.g. responses from open-ended qns in semi-structured interviews

sequencing the data collection

if both type of data are required, must decide sequence

quantitative first:

quantitative are collected to identify patterns and trends

qualitative are then collected to examine patterns and trends observed

qualitative first:

collected to make observations

then quantitative to verify observations

limitations to be considered when designing fieldwork

need to determine scope of investigation

scope can be adjusted based on research aims, study area, sample size and timeframe

need to consider existing limitations like available resources when determining scope

limitations:

  • amount of data to be collected
  • when I can conduct fieldwork and how much time I have to do so
  • access to places
  • how easily can I get required equipment
  • how many ppl are involved in the investigation

e.g it's impractical to collect all residents' views and is more manageable if the study area is restricted

risks at fieldwork

important to consider potential risks in fieldwork to avoid harming ourselves, others and nature

falls, cuts, minor injuries

can be prevented by wearing proper footwear and clothing and take note of potential hazards (e.g. uneven surfaces)

traffic accidents, collisions with cyclists

students to take note of local traffic hazards and road crossing procedures, and avoid collecting data on roads or in paths of cyclists