AQA AS/A Level GCE 2016 Geography Fieldwork

AQA AS Level Geography
Students will not be asked to hand in a completed enquiry although, for the exam, they do need to be familiar with all the stages of fieldwork-based enquiry. Students must be taught and may be asked questions on any of the following:

• preparation for fieldwork, including background reading, drawing up aims and objectives for the enquiry, planning research in the field and from secondary sources, using data sampling techniques and carrying out health and safety procedures;

• collection of primary data in the field and using secondary data sources;

• processing and presenting data using relevant graphical and cartographical techniques;

• analysing data, including using statistical techniques where relevant. Drawing conclusions related back to the original aims and objectives and linking these conclusions to both the place studied and the general ideas forming the basis of the enquiry;

• reviewing the success, or otherwise, of all stages of the enquiry;

• considering how the enquiry could be further developed.

AQA A Level Geography
Students are required to undertake an individual investigation that must:
(a) be based on a research question or issue defined and developed by the student individually to address aims, questions and/or hypotheses relating to any part of the specification content;
(b) involve research of relevant literature sources and an understanding of the theoretical or comparative context for a research question/hypothesis;
(c) incorporate the observation and recording of field data and/or evidence from field investigations that is of good quality and relevant to the topic under investigation;
(d) involve justification of the practical approaches adopted in the field including frequency/timing of observation, sampling and data collection approaches;
(e) draw on the student's own research, including their own field data and/or secondary data, and their experience of field methodologies of the investigation of core human and physical processes;
(f) demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the techniques appropriate for analysing field data and information and for representing results, and show ability to select suitable quantitative or qualitative approaches and to apply them;
(g) demonstrate the ability to interrogate and critically examine field data in order to comment on its accuracy and/or the extent to which it is representative, and use the experience to extend geographical understanding;
(h) require the student to independently contextualise, analyse and summarise findings and data, and to draw conclusions, by applying existing knowledge, theory and concepts to order and understand field observations and identify their relation to the wider context;
(i) involve the writing up of field results clearly, logically and coherently using a range of presentation methods and extended writing;
(j) demonstrate the ability to answer a specific geographical question drawing effectively on evidence and theory to make a well-argued case;
(k) require evaluation and reflection on the investigation including showing an understanding of the ethical dimensions of field research.