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Assessing Physical Fieldwork Data Collection
Write the title of your physical geography fieldwork enquiry.
Assess the effectiveness of one or more of the data collection method(s) used in your physical geography enquiry.
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Marking points
- 1 Provides a full enough physical-enquiry title to establish the correct context.
- 2 Identifies one or more data collection methods actually used in the physical geography enquiry.
- 3 Assesses effectiveness through developed strengths, limitations and/or accuracy/reliability/usefulness rather than description alone.
- 4 For top-level credit, reaches a detailed reasoned judgement linked to the enquiry’s data needs.
Full-mark answer
Title: Does river velocity increase downstream? Measuring velocity with a flow meter was effective because it gave numerical data at every site that could be averaged and compared directly with the enquiry question. Repeating readings reduced the effect of an unusual result. However, readings could vary with where the meter was held and short-term turbulence, so using the same depth and position was essential. Access also limited where sites could be chosen, so the sample may not represent the whole river. Overall, the method was effective for showing the broad downstream pattern, but more sites and repeated visits in similar weather would make the evidence more reliable.
Why this answer loses marks
We measured river velocity at each site using a flow meter.
This only describes the physical method; it does not assess accuracy, reliability or relevance, weigh limitations, or reach an effectiveness judgement.