Welcome to Fieldwork Planning for GCSE Geography
Fieldwork is your chance to step out of the classroom and become a real geographer! For your CCEA GCSE Geography (Unit 3: Fieldwork), you will take part in an investigation and then complete a 1-hour written examination (worth 20% of your total GCSE qualification).
In the Unit 3 exam, the questions are generic so that you can apply them directly to your own individual fieldwork project. Don't worry if this seems a bit daunting at first—great fieldwork simply comes down to good planning. Let's break down everything you need to know step-by-step.
1. The Core Structure: Aims and Hypotheses
Every successful geographical investigation begins with a clear direction. According to the CCEA specification, your investigation must link to a topic from either Unit 1 (Understanding Our Natural World) or Unit 2 (Living in Our World).
Your study must be built around a specific structure:
• One Aim
• A minimum of two Hypotheses
What is an Aim?
An aim is a broad, overall statement explaining what your investigation intends to achieve. It tells the reader the main goal of your study.
Example of an Aim:
"To investigate how river characteristics change downstream."
What is a Hypothesis?
A hypothesis is a specific, testable statement or prediction that can be proven or disproven using the data you collect in the field.
Examples of Hypotheses:
• Hypothesis 1: "River velocity will increase as distance from the source increases."
• Hypothesis 2: "Average bedload particle size will decrease as distance from the source increases."
Memory Aid: Aim vs. Hypothesis
• Aim = The Goal: What are you setting out to do? (Broad statement)
• Hypothesis = The Guess/Prediction: What exact result do you expect to find and test? (Specific testable statement)
Common Pitfall Alert
Never write a hypothesis as a question!
• Incorrect: "Does velocity increase downstream?" (This is a question, not a prediction).
• Correct: "Velocity will increase as distance from the source increases." (This is a clear, testable statement).
Key Takeaway: You need exactly 1 aim and at least 2 testable hypotheses linked directly to Unit 1 or Unit 2 topics.
2. Choosing and Justifying Your Fieldwork Location
Examiners will frequently ask you to justify why you chose a particular site for your fieldwork enquiry. Justifying means explaining why the location was suitable for your study, not just describing what it looks like.
Key Factors for Location Suitability
• Accessibility: Can the team safely reach the site by bus or walking? Are there clear footpaths and safe entry points?
• Safety: Is the site safe for students? (e.g., shallow water, slow-moving currents, safe crossing points away from heavy traffic).
• Presence of Relevant Features: Does the location actually have the geographical features you need to test your hypotheses? (e.g., distinct upper, middle, and lower stages along a river to measure changes downstream).
Common Pitfall Alert
• Weak Answer (Description only): "We chose the river because it flows through a park with lots of trees." (This earns very few marks because it doesn't explain suitability).
• Strong Answer (Justification): "The park provided safe, public access points across three distinct stages of the river, allowing us to safely enter the channel and measure velocity at varying distances from the source."
Key Takeaway: Always explain why a location was chosen based on accessibility, safety, and the presence of geographical features needed to test your hypotheses.
3. Data Sources: Primary vs. Secondary
During the planning stage, you must plan to collect and use two types of information:
1. Primary Data
Primary data is original data that you collect yourself directly in the field (first-hand evidence).
Examples: River depth measurements, velocity recordings using a flow meter, pedestrian counts, questionnaire responses.
2. Secondary Data
Secondary data is information that has already been collected, published, or recorded by someone else (second-hand evidence).
Examples: Ordnance Survey (OS) maps, historical weather records, textbooks, published articles, census data.
Did You Know?
Census data is unique! According to CCEA guidance, census data can be classified as either primary or secondary depending on how it is used in an investigation.
Why Plan for Secondary Data?
Do not rely solely on your own measurements! Secondary sources give you vital context before you visit the field (e.g., studying an OS map to identify safe study sites) and provide comparison data to help analyze your findings later.
Key Takeaway: A complete investigation requires both primary data (collected by you) and secondary data (collected by others, such as maps and published records).
4. Safety and Risk Assessment
Safety is a mandatory part of geographical planning. A risk assessment identifies potential hazards before you go into the field and establishes control measures to minimize those risks.
Hazard vs. Minimizing Risk
• Hazard: Anything that has the potential to cause harm.
• Control Measure: An action taken to reduce or eliminate the risk.
Common Fieldwork Examples:
• Hazard: Slippery or uneven river banks.
Control Measure: Wear sturdy boots with good grip and move carefully along marked paths.
• Hazard: Road traffic when moving between urban survey sites.
Control Measure: Wear high-visibility vests, use designated pedestrian crossings, and work in pairs or groups.
• Hazard: Deep or fast-flowing water.
Control Measure: Check water depth with a ranging pole before stepping in; stay close to the river bank.
Key Takeaway: A risk assessment must always pair a specific hazard with a practical action to reduce the risk.
5. The Fieldwork Statement and Table of Data
To help you in your final exam, CCEA allows you to bring a specific summary sheet into the exam room:
• Format: A document titled Fieldwork Statement and Table of Data.
• Size Limit: Maximum of two sides of A4.
• Marking Rule: No direct marks are awarded for this sheet itself. Instead, it serves as your personal reference tool so you can accurately quote data, aims, and methods when answering exam questions.
Key Takeaway: Keep your summary sheet organized and accurate so you can easily reference your hypotheses and raw data during the 1-hour exam.
Quick Review: Fieldwork Planning Checklist
Before sitting your Unit 3 exam, make sure you can answer these key questions about your planning phase:
• What was your single overall Aim?
• What were your two testable Hypotheses?
• Which topic in Unit 1 or Unit 2 did your investigation link to?
• Why was your site justified (safe, accessible, suitable features)?
• What primary and secondary data did you plan to use?
• What hazards did you identify, and how did you minimize those risks?