Economic Activity & Energy Practical Skills (Edexcel IGCSE Geography)
Revision Note
Written by: Bridgette Barrett
Reviewed by: Jenna Quinn
Aims, Sampling, Equipment & Risk Assessment
Economic Activity and Energy Enquiry
In this fieldwork enquiry, the focus is on developing energy resources
To undertake an energy fieldwork enquiry there are a range of practical skills and methods that will be used
These can apply to any energy fieldwork
The fieldwork enquiry should be linked to geographical theory
Aims and Hypothesis
The aims and hypothesis come from questions asked about developing energy resources such as:
What are people's views and opinions regarding a new wind farm?
Why do people have the views and opinions they do?
What environmental impact does a new renewable energy plant have on the surrounding area?
Examples of an aim could include:
An investigation into the impact of a new renewable energy plant
An investigation into people's opinions of a wind farm expansion
Examples of a hypothesis could include:
The environmental quality will increase with distance from the new renewable energy plant
People living in the local area will be opposed to the expansion of a wind farm
After the aims and hypothesis of the fieldwork have been established the next steps include:
Selecting the sites - this will involve sampling
Deciding on the equipment to be used
Considering any health and safety issues - completing a risk assessment
Data collection methods
Worked Example
Study Figure 1 shows a wind farm development in Lincolnshire
Suggest two possible geographical aims for an investigation of the wind farm
(2 Marks)
Answer:
An investigation into local people's views of the wind farm development (1)
An investigation into the impact on the environmental quality of the wind farm development (1)
Site Selection and Sampling
To collect the data it is not practical to look at the environmental impact in all areas around the development such as a wind farm or ask all local people their opinion
To select the sites used sampling should be used to reduce bias
There may be situations where access to the sample sites may be limited, meaning an opportunistic approach to sampling may need to be taken. However, this should be as close as possible to the site selected using sampling
The most commonly used sampling strategies for an economic activity and energy enquiry are:
Systematic - sampling of sites at regular intervals around the energy development
Random - the use of random sampling means that all sites have an equal chance of being selected which eliminates bias
Stratified - if completing a questionnaire the population selected should be representative of the whole population. For example, if 10% of the population is over 65 then 10% of the sample should be over 65
Site location can be recorded using GPS to give an accurate location using latitude and longitude
Worked Example
Study Figure 1 shows the methodology of a student investigating the impact of a new renewable energy plant
Explain one type of sampling method chosen by the student
(2 Marks)
Method | Purpose | Details |
|---|---|---|
Secondary data from websites | Background information on the sample sites | Use Google search to find information and local history books |
Photographs | A visual record of the sample sites | Take photographs of the different sites |
Environmental Quality Survey | Record environmental quality across the area | At six regular sites along a transect |
Questionnaire | People's views and opinions | Completed 24 questionnaires - four at each site |
Answer:
Systematic (1) collecting data in an ordered or regular way (1)
0pportunistic (1) collecting evidence where possible/appropriate (1)
Equipment
To complete the economic activity and energy enquiry measurements, a range of equipment is needed
The equipment includes the following:
Clipboard for holding record sheets
Environmental quality survey
Questionnaires
Pencil for writing in data
Camera to take photographs of sites
Worked Example
Study Figure 1 shows a student collecting opinions regarding a new renewable energy plant
How is the student collecting the opinions?
(1 Mark)
| A. Visiting people's homes |
| B. Asking people in the street |
| C. An online questionnaire |
| D. A postal questionnaire |
Answer:
B (1) - the student is asking people in the street
Risk Assessment
Any fieldwork will involve consideration of health and safety using a risk assessment
Risks associated specifically with economic activity and energy may include:
Weather conditions
Traffic
Working in an unfamiliar place
Contact strangers
Worked Example
Identify two health and safety risks of carrying out an energy fieldwork enquiry
(2 Marks)
Answer:
traffic accidents (1)
mugging/crime (1)
unfamiliar environment (1)
getting lost (1)
construction sites (1)
Using Equipment in the Field
The data collection methods depend on the aims/hypothesis of the fieldwork
In energy fieldwork, the only equipment which may be used is a digital decibel meter
Other data collection may include questionnaires, traffic counts and environmental quality surveys
Data collection should include both quantitative and qualitative methods
Questionnaires
Questionnaires can be used to gather the attitudes of local people towards a wind farm expansion or the building of a renewable energy plant
An example of a statement question would be:
'The expansion of the wind farm has led to increased visual pollution in the area. Do you strongly agree, agree, disagree or strongly disagree?'
An example of a closed question would be:
'How long have you lived in this area?'
An example of an open question would be:
'What are your views on the expansion of the wind farm at......?'
The questionnaires can be used to gather a large data sample
Worked Example
Describe the factors to be considered in preparing a questionnaire
(4 Marks)
Answer:
How many questions (1)
Layout of the questionnaire (1)
Decide on sample size (1)
Decide on sample composition (1)
Number of questions (1) open (1) closed (1)
Or award max to 2 well-developed (described) factors e.g. sample composition (1) > spread of different ages (1)
Environmental Quality Surveys
Environmental quality surveys (EQS) can be used to compare different sites around the energy development
A survey would be completed for each site
Care needs to be taken to be as objective as possible
Feature | Negative | -2 | -1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pavements | Pavements damaged and cracked in a poor state of repair |
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| Good quality pavements in an excellent state of repair |
Buildings | Buildings look derelict and uncared for |
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| Buildings look well cared for |
Litter | Lots of litter |
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| No litter |
Traffic | Lots of traffic and congestion |
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| No traffic |
Green space | No green space, trees or vegetation |
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| Lots of green space, trees and other vegetation |
Graffiti | Lots of graffiti |
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| No graffiti |
Worked Example
Identify one advantage of using a questionnaire
(1 Mark)
| A. It is a time consuming method |
| B. They can provide a mix of qualitative and quantitative data |
| C. Provides all the data needed for the enquiry |
| D. Guarantees response from everyone the questionnaire is given to |
Answer:
B (1) - Questionnaires can include both open and closed questions meaning that both qualitative and quantitative data can be gathered
Photographs and Field Sketches
Photographs and field sketches are qualitative data
Just as with any data collection and presentation they have their strengths and weaknesses
In an energy enquiry photographs and field sketches can be used to show the development of new energy sources and the impact that these developments have
Photographs are also useful for illustrating the data collection methods used
Worked Example
Explain why field sketches are a useful form of primary data
(2 Marks)
Answer:
Can capture lots of detail (1) which means they can be examined properly after the field trip has ended (1)
Highlights specific features which relate to other data collected (1) so can be used to support other forms of data collection (1)
Easy to annotate to show details (1) so can help with analysis (1)
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Annotations and labels are not the same
A label is a simple descriptive point e.g. 'wind turbine'
Whereas annotations are labels with a more detailed description or explanatory point
For example, 'commercial wind turbines are very large and can be viewed as visually unattractive leading to visual pollution.'
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