Advanced Geographical Techniques and Inquiry Process
This page delves deeper into specific geographical skills and techniques, as well as outlining the route to geographical inquiry.
Advanced Graphical Techniques
- Bar charts show discrete data, while line graphs display continuous data
- Compound line graphs and bar charts can be used to compare multiple data sets
Highlight: Radar diagrams allow comparison of different sites on the same graph, often used for environmental quality assessments. If the diagram goes above or below zero, it's called a bi-polar analysis.
Example: Kite diagrams are frequently used to show the abundance of different species along a transect.
The Route to Geographical Inquiry
- Aims/hypothesis
- Methodology
- Data collection
- Data presentation
- Data analysis
- Conclusion
Definition: Primary data is data you have collected yourself, while secondary data is obtained from other sources.
Sampling Methods
Sampling should be unbiased, accurate, practical, and representative. Methods include:
- Random sampling: Most accurate method as it has no bias
- Systematic sampling: Quicker and easier, selecting every nth person
- Stratified sampling: Selecting enough people from each demographic to reflect the larger population
Vocabulary: Random sampling is considered the most accurate method as it eliminates bias.
Practical Fieldwork Techniques
Examples of geographical fieldwork techniques include:
- Measuring sediment size
- Creating cross profiles of rivers
- Measuring stream velocity using floats like orange peel
Example: To measure stream velocity, geographers might use a float such as orange peel and time its movement over a set distance.
This comprehensive guide to cartographic and diagrammatic techniques for geography exams provides students with essential geographical skills and knowledge needed for success in their GCSE geography studies and beyond.
