Geographical skills and fieldwork

1. What is primary data?

1. Data from the census
2. Data collected first-hand by the researcher
3. Published research
4. Old maps

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B: Data collected first-hand by the researcher. Secondary data comes from existing sources.

2. What is systematic sampling?

1. Sampling at random points
2. Sampling at regular intervals
3. Sampling only the easiest sites
4. Sampling proportional to subgroups

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B: Sampling at regular intervals. For example, every 10 metres along a transect.

3. Which map shows density using shading?

1. Isoline map
2. Choropleth map
3. Flow line map
4. Proportional symbol map

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B: Choropleth map. Darker shading usually indicates higher values.

4. Which statistical test measures the strength of a relationship between two ranked variables?

1. Chi-squared
2. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient
3. Standard deviation
4. Mean

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B: Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. Values range from −1 to +1.

5. Why is a risk assessment needed before fieldwork?

1. To improve data accuracy
2. To identify hazards and plan how to reduce them
3. To choose a sampling method
4. To analyse results

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B: To identify hazards and plan how to reduce them. Safety planning is an essential part of fieldwork design.

6. Which sampling method involves selecting points at a fixed interval, such as every 10 m along a transect?

1. Random sampling
2. Systematic sampling
3. Stratified sampling
4. Opportunity sampling

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B: Systematic sampling. This gives an even spread of sample points.

7. A student combines her own street questionnaire with published census data on age structure. Using both primary and secondary sources to cross-check findings is called:

1. Stratification
2. Triangulation
3. Interpolation
4. Randomisation

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B: Triangulation. Triangulation uses more than one data source or method to check findings, which makes conclusions more reliable and valid. Here primary questionnaire data are cross-checked against secondary census data.

8. Which of the following is an example of qualitative data collected during fieldwork?

1. Wave frequency per minute
2. Pedestrian count per 5 minutes
3. Mean pebble length in mm
4. An annotated field sketch of a cliff face

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D: An annotated field sketch of a cliff face. Field sketches, photographs and interview transcripts are qualitative because they describe features rather than giving numerical measurements. The other three options are quantitative.

9. A chi-squared test would be most suitable for testing whether:

1. The mean of a sample exceeds its median
2. Data points lie close to a straight line
3. Observed frequencies differ from those expected by chance
4. Two ranked variables are correlated

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C: Observed frequencies differ from those expected by chance. Chi-squared compares observed frequencies in categories (e.g. land-use types) with expected frequencies. Spearman's rank is used for correlation between ranked variables.

10. Students measure 8 pebbles per site. Which change would most improve the reliability of their results?

1. Measure only the largest pebbles
2. Increase to about 30 pebbles per site
3. Estimate sizes by eye
4. Measure only at high tide

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B: Increase to about 30 pebbles per site. A larger sample reduces the effect of anomalies, so repeat measurements give more consistent means. Selecting only large pebbles creates bias, and estimating by eye reduces accuracy.