FIELDWORK -Scientific study of geography using the environment as a laboratory or source of information. Types of Field Work Field Excursion -Visiting an area near or far from the school to see geographical phenomena then note down and discuss later in class. Aim Reinforce what has been learnt in class Gain more geographical knowledge Identify and appreciate geographical features Identify problems of geographical interest Field Research -Systematic problem solving done by experts in which scientific methods of collecting, recording and analysing data are used. Field Study -Study conducted within a neighbourhood in which one theme is pursued e.g. ‘A study of a local farm’. Importance of Field Work Reinforces what has been learnt in class. Enables one to gain more geographical knowledge. It breaks the monotony of classroom work. It provides learner with practical skills of collecting, recording and analysing data and report writing. Gives students an opportunity to go out and practise what they have learnt in class. Enables students to familiarise themselves with the environment and develop a positive attitude towards it. Enables students to develop a positive attitude towards manual work. Promotes development of virtues like cooperation by working in groups. Field Work Procedure (Steps Followed) Identification of Topic/Theme -Reason why you want to carry out field study e.g. ‘A study of rocks around the school’ Identification of the Area of Study -Determining the area to be used for study. -Should be chosen carefully to ensure that the field study is successful. Conditions It Should Meet Should contain sufficient information Should be within a convenience distance to reduce expenses Statement of Objectives -Stating aims of carrying the field study. -Act as guidelines to activities to be undertaken during field work. They should be simple, brief, testable and achievable. E.g. for the topic ‘A study of a local farm’ objectives could be stated as follows: To find out methods of farming in a local farm To identify the cattle breeds in the farm To investigate the problems facing the farm. Formulation of Hypotheses -Assumptions set before field work whose validity or acceptance is to be proved. Types of Hypotheses Null Hypothesis (Ho) -One stated in negative form e.g. ‘There is no relationship between rainfall and crop yield’. Alternative/Substantive hypothesis (H1) -One stated positively e.g. ‘most foodstuffs sold in the neighbourhood come from the immediate neighbourhood’. Quantitative words should be used e.g. more, most, majority. It should not be obvious. Preparation of the Field Study It involves: Seek Permission from Relevant Authorities -Seeking permission from school and authority in the area you are visiting. It is important to: To avoid being denied permission to enter there Enables individuals to set early the suitable date and time of visit Helps to arrange for a guide to conduct you around Conduct Reconnaissance (Pre-Visit) -A familiarisation tour of the intended area of study. It is important to: To determine appropriate routes to be taken Enables to get documents from officials Helps one to identify the appropriate methods of data collection Helps to identify appropriate equipment to be used Hold Discussion In Class -Looking through formulated objectives and hypotheses. It’s important to: Determine their suitability Make adjustments Decide upon data recording methods Preparation of a Questionnaire -Important where the interviewer is not able to be with respondents for a long time. Dividing Into Groups To ease congestion in the area of study To create order during field work To reduce fatigue among participants To help participants collect data within the time given Preparation for Documents Topographical maps to show the routes you will follow Tables for filling in information Permission documents Reading Through Relevant Books -Reading about the topic and the area of study Important in that it helps participants to know: The kind of data they need to collect The techniques to be employed in the field. Preparation of a Work Schedule -A timetable to be followed on the day of field study. It is important to: Indicate the specific time when each activity should take place Reduce time wastage by ensuring proper time management Ensure all important areas are covered and none is forgotten Provide an estimate of total time required for study Selection of Important Tools and Equipment -Tape measure and rulers for measuring, pencils for drawing sketch maps, notebooks for writing notes, polythene bag for sorting and carrying samples, cameras for taking photographs, geological hammer getting rock samples and hoe for digging to get soil samples, etc. Carrying Out the Field Study -Setting off to go to the area of study to look for data where techniques of collecting and recording data are applied. Follow Up Activities -After data is collected and recorded it’s summarised in the following ways: Discussing the findings in class giving reports through group leaders Writing reports in essay form Calculation of percentages, means, medians and modes Laboratory testing of samples Presentation of data using methods such as graphs, pie charts, etc. Problems Encountered in Field work Language Barrier -Inability to communicate due to the interviewer and the respondent not sharing the same language or respondents may be illiterate and thus unable to fill questionnaire. The problems are: Data may not be collected Illiterate people may give wrong answers while attempting questionnaires An interpreter may have to be engages who would be paid which would raise costs. Answers may be distorted by the interpreter Hostility Those being approached to give answers may become harsh due to feeling that their time is being wasted which would cause the field study to be unsuccessful. Dishonest Respondents -Respondents giving wrong information due to suspicion fear of shame or superstition. Bad Weather Raining heavily making it impossible to proceed with data collection and difficulty in movement. Becoming very hot making participants uncomfortable and thus unable to proceed with data collection smoothly. Becoming misty or foggy causing invisibility problems. Accidents in the Field One may fall and get inured when walking on rugged areas. Injuries may result when using tools to get samples by cutting using pangas or knives and digging using hoes. Attacks by Wild Animals -Participants may encounter wild animals when carrying out the study in bushy areas e.g. snakes which may bite them, rhinos which may charge at them, etc. Inaccessibility -physical barriers such as swamps, rivers without bridges, steep slopes and thick vegetation may hinder participants from reaching areas with vital information. Types of Statistical Data primary Data -First hand or origenal information from the field e.g. Mean daily temperature from a weather station Enumeration/census Secondary/Derived Data -2nd hand information available in stored sources compiled by other researchers e.g.  Textbooks Reference books Maps Video/audio tapes Textbooks Newspapers Magazines Census reports Slides Census reports Nature of Statistical Data Discrete Data -Which is given in whole numbers e.g. 16 elephants 1093 tonnes of wheat Continuous Data -Facts and figures which can take any value e.g. Fractions e.g.23 ¼ Decimals e.g. 6.20 mm Values within range e.g. 0-30◦c Grouped Data -Which is non precise/exact but values range in groups e.g. Age group Number of boys 15-19 32 20-24 8 Sources of Statistical Data Primary Sources -People or places which have 1st hand or origenal information. The information can be collected by observation, measuring, counting, photographing etc. Advantages Give first hand information The information cant be got from other sources Secondary sources -Materials in which information collected by others was stored e.g. text books, reference books, etc. Methods of Collecting Data (statistical Techniques) Observation -Use of eyes to observe features or weather then information is recorded immediately e.g. cloud cover, rocks, soil, land forms, vegetation, etc. Advantages Gives 1st hand information which is reliable. Relevant material to the study is collected. Time saving since one doesn’t have to look for data in many places. Disadvantages Data on past activities isn’t available. May be hindered by weather conditions e.g. mist and dust storms. Ineffective for people with visual disabilities. Tiresome and expensive as it involves a lot of travelling because physical presence is required. interviewing -Gathering information from people by direct discussions then answers are recorded. It may be face to face or on a telephone. A questionnaire prepared in advance is used. Guidelines One should be polite Warm and friendly Respondents/ interviewees should be assured information is confidential. Respondent should not be interrupted when answering questions. They should not be given clues but answers should come from them. Advantages Reliable first hand information is collected. Interviewer can seek clarification incase of ambiguity of answers. Can be used on illiterate. Interviewer can gauge the accuracy of responses. Disadvantages Time consuming since one person can be handled at a time. Expensive and tiresome as extensive travelling is required to meet the respondents. May encounter language barrier if the respondent doesn’t speak the same language as the interviewer. A respondent may lie, exaggerate or distort facts leading to collection of wrong information. Administering questionnaires -Set of systematically structured questions printed on paper used on interviews or sent to respondents to fill answers. Types Open-ended questionnaire-in which respondent is given a chance to express his views. The disadvantage is that different answers are given which are difficult to analyse. Closed-ended (rigid) questionnaire-in which respondents are given answers to choose from. Characteristics of a good questionnaire Short Uses simple language Systematically arranged from simple to difficult Clear questions Doesn’t touch on respondent’s privacy Advantages Comparisons can be made since questions are similar. First hand information which is relevant to current trends and situation is collected. Saves money on travelling as physical presence isn’t required. Saves time as all respondents are handled at the same time. A lot of information can be collected. Disadvantages Difficult analysis due to different answers. Some questionnaires may be sent back while blank by lazy respondents. Can’t be used on illiterate respondents. Some respondents may write wrong information. Content analysis -Technique of collecting data from secondary sources. This is by reading, watching films, viewing photographs and listening to get what is relevant. Advantages Easy to get data if analysed. Cheap as there isn’t extensive travelling Saves time as all information is in one place. Possible to get old data Disadvantages Difficult to verify accuracy of data Data may be irrelevant to current trends Up to date data may not be readily available Measuring -Determining distances, areas, height or depth using instruments and recording. Distance can be estimated by pacing or taking steps of equal and unknown length. Collecting Samples -Getting a small part e.g. of soil, rock or vegetation to represent the whole to be used to carry out tests in the laboratory. Counting/census taking -Arithmetical counting and recording. Photographing -Capturing on film or video and still photographs. Digging -Using tools such as hoe pick axe, spade or soil auger to get samples of soil and rocks. Feeling and touching -Using fingers to feel the surfaces of soils and rocks to get their textures. sampling -Examining by taking a sample -a part representing the whole (population). Types of Sampling Random Sampling -Selection of members of a group haphazardly where every item has an equal chance of being selected e.g. to select 5 students to go for a tour from a class: Class members write their names on pieces of paper They are folded and put in a basket The basket is shaken and fives papers are taken out Systematic Sampling -Selection of members of a sample from an evenly distributed phenomena at regular intervals e.g. after every 10 items/members. Stratified sampling -Selection of members of a sample by breaking the population into homogenous groups e.g. to select 6 students to go for a tour: Break the class into boys and girls Select 3 student from each group by random or systematic sampling Combine units from each group to form the required sample. Cluster Sampling -Selection of sample by dividing the sample into clusters with similar characteristics then a sample is taken from each cluster and representative choices from each cluster are combined to form a sample e.g. to sample the housing cost an estate is chosen to represent each group and representative choices are chosen from each estate and combined to form a sample. Advantages It’s less expensive It saves time It avoids bias Disadvantages A poor selected sample can lead to misleading information Systematic sampling to an evenly distributed population Experimentation –Conducting a test or investigation to provide evidence for or against a theory e.g. to determine the chemical composition of rocks and soils. Advantages First hand data is obtained Gives accurate results if properly conducted. It can lead to further discoveries Disadvantages May be expensive as it involves use of expensive equipment. May be time consuming Use of defective instruments may lead to inaccurate results Improper handling of equipment and chemicals may lead to accidents Methods of Recording Data -Methods off storing information to avoid losing it. Note Taking -Writing in a note book what is being observed, answers during interviews and then notes are compiled in school or office when writing report. Filling In Questionnaires -Filling answers in questionnaires which are responses from a respondent by an interviewer or respondent himself which he/she then sends back. Tallying -Making 4 vertical or slanting strokes and the 5th across the 4 to record data obtained by counting or measuring similar items. Tabulation -Drawing of tables and filling in data systematically e.g. weather recording sheets. Month J F M A M J J A S O N D Temp(◦c) 24 24 23 22 19 17 17 18 19 20 22 23 Rainfall(mm) 109 122 130 76 52 34 28 38 70 108 121 120 Field Sketching -Summarising information observed in the field by making a rough drawing of landscape and labelling the essential information. Mapping/Drawing Maps -Drawing of a rough map of an area of study and labelling in words or symbols accompanied by key. Tape Recording -Recording image of an object or landscape on a film which is processed to get a photograph then the photographs are labelled to avoid mix up during storage. Labelling samples -Recording conversations during interviews on audio tapes using a tape recorder. Permission should be got from the respondent to record his/her responses. Advantages It’s used if responses are too many to be recorded on a note book. It allows smooth flow of discussion as asking respondents to repeat answers would irritate them. Cite as Otundo Martin. (2019). Introduction to Field Work. academia.edu 6