Past Paper Q A
June 2012
Section A
State the aim(s) of your fieldwork investigation.
Explain the geographical reasons for carrying out your investigation in the area chosen.
There should be reference to the geographical reasons for the carrying out of the investigation in the area selected. This will include an explanation of reasons for the selection of the location. There is likely to be a description of the geographical characteristics of the area selected and reference to the underpinning theory would therefore be relevant to explain why the area was selected. There is likely to be a multi-layering of response, explaining why the area was selected to carry out the investigation and there may be reference to the theoretical context. Other geographical reasons are also valid, such as restrictions of resources (people and/or equipment), risk assessment, time available, etc., all relevant if linking the geographical reasons to the location. Planning and carrying out are both appropriate.
Describe and justify the steps taken to minimise the risks involved in collecting data for your investigation.
The answer is likely to include reference to the importance of completing a risk assessment to minimise risk before undertaking work in the field. Types of risk assessment documentation and how risk is assessed could be covered; this may be before the investigation is undertaken and also in the field. The value of a preparatory visit to the area and/or testing any equipment to be used as a part of risk assessment could be discussed. The use of group data and the security it provides may also feature; this might include the composition of a group in some cases.
There will be continuous risk monitoring as the fieldwork data is collected, leading to modifications of the actual data collection, e.g. a rapid increase in river volume as the day progresses, unforeseen bad weather or emergency roadworks affecting traffic flow and access to, and in, town centres.
The response should
Section A
State the aim(s) of your fieldwork investigation.
Explain the geographical reasons for carrying out your investigation in the area chosen.
There should be reference to the geographical reasons for the carrying out of the investigation in the area selected. This will include an explanation of reasons for the selection of the location. There is likely to be a description of the geographical characteristics of the area selected and reference to the underpinning theory would therefore be relevant to explain why the area was selected. There is likely to be a multi-layering of response, explaining why the area was selected to carry out the investigation and there may be reference to the theoretical context. Other geographical reasons are also valid, such as restrictions of resources (people and/or equipment), risk assessment, time available, etc., all relevant if linking the geographical reasons to the location. Planning and carrying out are both appropriate.
Describe and justify the steps taken to minimise the risks involved in collecting data for your investigation.
The answer is likely to include reference to the importance of completing a risk assessment to minimise risk before undertaking work in the field. Types of risk assessment documentation and how risk is assessed could be covered; this may be before the investigation is undertaken and also in the field. The value of a preparatory visit to the area and/or testing any equipment to be used as a part of risk assessment could be discussed. The use of group data and the security it provides may also feature; this might include the composition of a group in some cases.
There will be continuous risk monitoring as the fieldwork data is collected, leading to modifications of the actual data collection, e.g. a rapid increase in river volume as the day progresses, unforeseen bad weather or emergency roadworks affecting traffic flow and access to, and in, town centres.
The response should