AQA AS Geography
Unit 2 – Geographical Fieldwork
Temburong River: 5th February 2013
Name Once a title (aim) has been decided, you must break the title down into an hypotheses (for Physical investigations). These hypotheses will help you find an overall answer to the title. Fieldwork Aim
To investigate the changing characteristics of the Temburong River with increased distance downstream.
Fieldwork Hypothesis
Velocity will increase with distance downstream
Geographical Understanding of Hypothesis
What Geographical Understanding are you basing your hypothesis on?
According to Bradshaw’s model average velocity will increase with distance downstream. This is because more energy is needed to overcome friction in the upper reaches of a river, leaving less energy available for movement. Greater turbulence as the water moves over the uneven bed means more internal friction in the upper course. There is also greater external friction under normal flow conditions, as large boulders on the river bed increase the wetted perimeter meaning that more water is in contact with the bed & banks giving the river a high hydraulic radius (less efficient channel profile). In the lower sections of the river, Flow is smoother meaning less internal friction. Channel shape is also more efficient (lower hydraulic radius) as cross-sectional area is higher. Since the river loses less energy to overcome friction in the lower course there will be more energy available for movement and thus flow will be more rapid. Location of Study Area:
Temburong River, Temburong District, Brunei Darussalam (Borneo)
The investigation took place along a 28km stretch of the Temburong River between its confluence with the Belalong River in the Ulu Temburong National Park and the town of Bangar
The first site was just into the upper course of the river whilst the final site was at the beginning of the lower course.
Poor accessibility meant that only sites between these two points could easily be reached.
Why is this a suitable river to investigate changing channel characteristics downstream? What evidence is there from the map?
The Temburong River has had little interference by people and for most of its course is flowing through a natural channel.
The river between the National park and Batang Duri can be reached by longboat, from Batang Duri to Bangar there is a road running alongside the river. Beyond Bangar are mangrove swamps which are less accessible.
We also had local knowledge of the area.
Assess the extent to which this map is ‘fit for purpose.’ Risk assessment
You need to be able to carry out a risk assessment for any research you undertake – outline the risks of carrying out research and suggest strategies for minimising risk. Temburong - River Hazard/Risk Initial level Control measures (strategy for reducing level Residual level of risk of risk) of risk (L/M/H) (L/M/H) Boat Accident M Use reputable company with good quality boats l and experienced drivers. Students told to listen to the boat driver’s instructions, distribute their weight evenly and not rock the boats
Drowning M Students to wear life jackets at all times L Be aware who the non swimmers are and not let them go into water above their knees. Be aware of rainfall conditions upriver and keep a constant eye on changing river levels to avoid being caught in a flash flood. Keep a teacher lookout downstream to prevent students going beyond a specified point.
Warn students to keep their hands inside the boats at all times, before leaving and throughout trip. Fingers crushed H L when boats come alongside each Wear shoes with good grips. Be aware of other conditions
Slipping on wet H Do not enter rivers or go to close to the waters L stones edge in areas where crocodiles have been sited
Crocodile attack L Use suncream & wear a hat L Work/rest under shade as much as possible
Sunburn Remind students to drink regularly H Provide extra supplies of water for whole group L Dehydration Use insect repellent H Wear long sleeved shirts / long trousers L
Have first Aid kit & trained first aider in group. Insect bites Have one teacher per 10 students H L
2) Data Collection - Methods
There are two types of data:
a) Quantitative data – information can be expressed in numerical terms. Research involves using statistics to analyse data (e.g. river width). b) Qualitative data – difficult to measure, count or express in numerical terms (e.g. nature of relationships among groups in society, impacts of tourism in a named area).
Researchers also often talk about data being subjective or objective. Subjective – influenced by personal opinion. Objective – undistorted by personal bias.
You should also know the difference between primary and secondary data:
a) Primary data: Data that is collected and processed by individuals (e.g. questionnaires, raw census data, maps with annotations). b) Secondary data: Data that is collected and processed by other people other than the researcher in question (e.g. processed census data).
Once you have decided what type of data you need to collect, you need to decide on a sampling strategy to use to ensure that your results are as accurate and reliable as possible.
Why do we need to take a sample when carrying out research? Cannot measure all points (no time) If sampling is carried out carefully it can be representative of reality, whilst being done in the limited amount of time available.
Sampling: Samples are ideally collected to be representative, but in practice they are often selected as a matter of convenience. a) Random sampling: Every value, or member of the “population,” has an equal chance of being selected and the selection of one member does not affect the probability of selection of another member. Random sample is obtained using random numbers, usually generated on a computer. Advantage Disadvantage There is no bias in this sampling method. This is a time-consuming method and be beware that a random sample may miss an entire part of the survey area. b) Systematic sampling: Values are selected in a regular way (systematically). E.g. Choosing every tenth person on a list or every 20th house in a street.
Advantage Disadvantage This gives an even coverage of the area being There is some bias in this sampling method (all investigated. points do not have an equal chance of selection). c) Stratified sampling: This is based on knowing something in advance about the population or area in question. If it is known that there are important groups in a population, it is possible to make sure that a representative sample of them is included in a survey.
E.g. If you are surveying the attitudes of local people to the opening of a supermarket, your sample must reflect the age distribution of local people.
Advantage Disadvantage Sample is representative
Comment on how you have chosen to sample your data
Outline and justify one method of data collection
Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the method of data collection 3 & 4. Data Presentation & Analysis
You must present data using appropriate methods – data must be presented visually and must show all information clearly – it must be easy for the reader to pick out trends, patterns, anomalies in the data.
Where appropriate, titles, scales and keys should be clearly marked on presentation. Scatter Graphs & Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient
Correlation is a method whereby a co-efficient is calculated to describe the degree of association between two sets of paired data/values. This co-efficient is then tested to determine the probability that the association might be due to chance.
A correlation is concerned with assessing links, association or relationships between two or more phenomena. It looks at the strength of the relationship between two variables or two sets of data.
Give examples of variables that you could correlate together:-
Degree’s of correlation Which variable to draw on which axis of the scatter graph?
Plot the INDEPENDENT variable on the horizontal axis (termed the X axis) and the DEPENDENT variable on the vertical axis (Y axis).
One variable usually has an effect on the other and this should enable you to identify the independent and dependent variables.
Example:- temperature decreases as you go up the mountain. Height above sea level is the independent variable but the variable that changes is temperature so that is the dependent variable.
Is a visual link precise enough? Not really because it is far too subjective. Vague statements like “The scattergraph seems to me to indicate a weak positive correlation…” are too imprecise. Applying the Spearman Rank Statistical Test means you can QUANTIFY the strength of the relationship that your scattergraph reveals. It is more objective and therefore acceptable to science. Sketch of your Scatter Graph Describe one technique you used to present data in this enquiry and outline the advantages and disadvantages of it
Outline and justify the use of one or more techniques used to statistically analyse your results
5) Drawing conclusions and evaluation
Summarise the results to answer the original question/hypothesis Support the summary with reference to evidence from earlier sections Explain results in the light of theories/concepts and location Identify limitations of methods and impacts on results - suggest improvements/extension Explain possible effect of limitations on results Examiner should be able to read conclusion and know what your study was about and what you found out
Geographical Information Systems
What is this? – the most powerful set of tools in existence for the analysis and visualisation of spatial information. How might you go about using GIS in your investigation? A smart phone could be used to take pictures of each site, with ‘location (GPS) on’. These pictures could then be uploaded to Google Earth to pinpoint the exact location of each sample point.
The actual distance between each site could then be measured and used on the scattergraph, rather than just giving the rank of the distance downstream.
Bar charts can be superimposed onto the Google Earth Image (or Google Map) to indicate velocity at each point.
Google Earth also shows features which might be affecting the results, such as channel shape or human influences, such as bridges. Summarise your findings and comment on how well they support your background theory
Comment on the validity of your conclusion based on the accuracy and reliability of the data you collected.
Make recommendations for further research.
In what ways would your conclusions be of use to other people?
Possible question alternatives.
Starting point Methods Skills Interpretation Conclusions/Evaluation 1 Outline the aim Outline and Describe one What are the How far did your fieldwork and describe the justify one method used to advantages and conclusions match the theory, idea or method of data present your data disadvantages of geographical theory, concept from collection that the analysis concept or idea on which which your aim you used technique(s) that your study was based was derived you used? 2 Explain the Examine the Describe one Outline and Summarise your findings geographical limitations of application of ICT justify the use of and suggest how this concept, process your chosen skills in carrying one or more enquiry could be improved or theory that methodology out your fieldwork techniques used underpinned and comment on to statistically your enquiry its usefulness analyse your results 3 Outline one Outline one Describe and Name one Making specific reference source of hypothesis and illustrate one technique of data to your results, suggest information that describe one technique you analysis and how your enquiry could be you used and methodology for used to present describe how it improved assess the primary data data in this was used extent to which collection in enquiry it was “fit for relation to this purpose” 4 Explain how you How did you What difficulties What is meant by In what ways would your devised your respond to risks did you face when the term conclusions be of use to aim and how associated with presenting your ‘significance’ in other people? you responded undertaking results? the analysis of to the risks primary data fieldwork data? associated with collection your chosen site for fieldwork 5 Describe the Discuss the Describe a method In the context of Drawing upon your location of your strengths and of presentation the analysis of findings, explain how your fieldwork and weaknesses of that you used in fieldwork data, enquiry improved your explain why it the method of your investigation outline the understanding of the topic was suitable for data collection and indicate how meaning of area your the chosen ‘anomalies’. investigation method was useful 6 Describe the Comment on the Outline one Describe one Comment on the strengths purpose of your strengths and technique that you method you used and weaknesses of fieldwork weaknesses of have used to to present data different aspects of the enquiry different aspects present results collected in your study and suggest of the study. from your data fieldwork improvements Suggest collection investigation improvements. 7 With reference In the box With the aid of a Explain how the Summarise the main to fieldwork provided, draw diagram, describe use of ICT can findings of your investigations and annotated one technique that improve investigation distinguish sketch map of the you used to geographical between location of the present data in understanding qualitative and study area to your enquiry quantitative show the basic data characteristics 8 Describe the characteristic features of your study area
Methods Sketch Results table
Site (x) Rank x Average Rank y d d² (increasing Velocity (y) distance (m/sec) downstream ) 1 14 0.59 5 9 81 2 13 0.24 8 5 25 3 12 0.62 4 8 64 4 11 0.39 7 4 16 5 10 1.01 1 9 81 6 9 0.91 3 6 36 7 8 0.98 2 6 36 8 7 0.17 9 -2 4 9 6 0.47 6 0 0 10 5 0.11 10 -5 25 11 4 0.04 11 -7 49 12 3 0 12 -9 81 13 2 -0.10 13 -11 121 14 1 -0.23 14 -13 169 ∑d² 788
Scattergraph with flow backwards still counted as a + velocity Correlation coefficient: -0.65 Critical value (99% confidence level): 0.646 n= 13
Still a negative correlation
Scatter graph without last three sites
Correlation coefficient: -0.57 Critical value (99% confidence level): 0.73 n= 11
This shows is still negative, but no longer a significant correlation