Types of fieldwork data: counting, measuring, asking
Geography · Key Stage 2 · The School
Three basic methods
Fieldwork data comes from three main methods. COUNTING tallies how many of something there are. MEASURING records a number, like temperature or distance. ASKING records what people think, using a survey or interview. Good fieldwork usually mixes all three together. Real questions rarely need just one method alone.
Counted or measured, not the same
Counting cars passing a point gives a whole number. Measuring the width of a river gives a number with a unit, like metres. Both are useful, but they answer different kinds of question. Mixing the two up leads to a confusing result. Knowing which one you need comes before going outside.
Asking people is its own skill
A survey question must be clear and fair. A vague question gets a vague, useless answer. Asking the same question the same way to everyone lets the answers actually be compared afterwards. A rushed survey often ruins good fieldwork later. Testing a question on one friend first often catches a problem early.
Question one: how many shops on the high street are empty? That needs COUNTING. Question two: how wide is the river at this exact point? That needs MEASURING, with a tape. Question three: do local people think the new car park is a good idea? That needs ASKING, through a short survey. Three very different questions. Three very different methods. Picking the wrong method would give an answer to a question nobody actually asked. Planning the method first always saves time later.