Analysis & Conclusions (Cambridge (CIE) O Level Geography)

Analysis & Conclusion

Analysis

• Once data has been collected and presented it needs to be analysed

• Analysis is the process which makes sense of the data collected

  • It identifies patterns, trends, significance, connections and/or meaning in the data 

• Analysis involves a number of stages

  • Describe the data shown in the graphs/photographs/maps

  • Identification of the highest and lowest results

  • Identification of any patterns and trends

  • Identification of any relationships between data

• Methods of analysis depend upon the data collected

• Quantitative data is analysed using numerical and statistical methods

Numerical and statistical skills

• Statistical methods can be used to help explore and explain the results gathered during data collection

Mean, median and mode

• These are measures of central tendency

• The mean (average) is calculated by adding up all of the values in the data set and then dividing by the total number of values in the data set

• The median is the middle value of a set of data. The numbers are arranged in rank order and then the middle value selected

• The mode is the value which occurs most frequently in a set of data

Range 

• A measure of dispersion - the spread of data around the average

• Range is the distance between the highest and lowest value

• Interquartile range is the part of the range that covers the middle 50% of the data

Anomalies

• These are results which do not fit the pattern or trend

• They need to be described and explained

Analysing photographs and field sketches

• Annotation of photographs and field sketches is part of analysis 

• The use of photographs and field sketches is a qualitative analysis

• Analysis in annotation gives meaning to the features shown in the photograph/field sketch

Conclusion

• The fieldwork conclusion should:

  • Return to the hypothesis and aim

  • Identify any evidence that supports the hypothesis 

  • Outline any evidence that contradicts the hypothesis

  • Describe and explain any links to geographical theories

  • Acknowledge any unusual results

  • State whether the hypothesis is supported or not

• A key focus in the fieldwork questions in the exam is the evaluation of data collection

• Enquiry evaluation should:

  • Identify any problems with, and limitations of, data collection methods

  • Suggest other data which would have been useful in the study or improvements which could be made

  • Evaluate how reliable the conclusions were

  • Suggesting how the scope of the study could be extended

Data collection - problems and limitations

• There are always issues and limitations associated with data collection they may include:

  • Accessibility of sample sites - could all sample sites be accessed?

  • Size of sample - was the sample size large enough?

  • Duration of the data collection - was the enquiry time long enough to collect the data needed?

  • Methods - were the questions on questionnaires appropriate to meet the aim and test the hypothesis?

  • Equipment - were there any issues with the equipment?

  • Human error - were there any mistakes in recording data or reading the equipment?

  • Time of the data collection - did the weather or time impact the results collected?

  • Unforeseen issues - were there any problems on the day such as road works, and river flow which affected the results?

Other data and improvements

• There are always improvements which could be made to data collection these may include:

  • Increasing the sample size

  • Taking more measurements 

  • Looking at a wider range of secondary sources

  • Could other equipment have been used - a flow meter would be more accurate for measuring river velocity than a float

Evaluating the conclusions

• To evaluate the conclusion students should examine whether:

  • The conclusions reflect the aims and hypothesis set out at the start of the enquiry

  • The aim and hypothesis were appropriate - could the hypothesis be easily assessed

  • The location was appropriate 

  • The accuracy of results could be improved if the data collection were to be repeated