Fieldwork enquiry: planning, sampling and data
You must complete two contrasting enquiries — one physical, one human — and answer questions about them from memory. This lesson builds the enquiry framework.
Lesson overview
What you'll learn in this lesson
Plan enquiries, select sampling and presentation methods, analyse data and evaluate conclusions.
Key learning points
- • The six-stage enquiry
- • Primary and secondary data
- • Sampling
- • Risk and reliability
This lesson at a glance
- 30 minutes
- 21 parts to scroll through
- 4 quick checks
- Marked quiz at the end
- Gentle pace: short sittings with pauses
Words to know
Scroll down — the lesson carries on below
Watch & discover
Part 1 of 21
Visual introductionPicture this
Fieldwork enquiry: planning, sampling and data
You must complete two contrasting enquiries — one physical, one human — and answer questions about them from memory. This lesson builds the enquiry framework.
In a nutshell
Plan enquiries, select sampling and presentation methods, analyse data and evaluate conclusions.
Learning cycle
Part 2 of 21
Learning cycle 1 of 2
Part 1 · The six-stage enquiry
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 3 of 21
Learn
The six-stage enquiry
Question or hypothesis; selecting methods; collecting data; presenting data; analysing and drawing conclusions; evaluating. Every Paper 3 fieldwork question sits at one of those stages, so name the stage in your answer.
Reset break
Part 4 of 21
Pause
That's sitting 1 of 5 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Explore the idea
Part 5 of 21
Learn
Primary and secondary data
Primary data you collect yourself: river measurements, pedestrian counts, environmental quality surveys, questionnaires. Secondary data comes from others: census data, flood records, maps, historical photographs. Good enquiries triangulate the two.
Quick check
Part 6 of 21
Quick check
Part 7 of 21
Reset break
Part 8 of 21
Pause
That's sitting 2 of 5 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Learning cycle
Part 9 of 21
Learning cycle 2 of 2
Part 2 · Sampling
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 10 of 21
Learn
Sampling
Random sampling avoids bias but may miss areas; systematic sampling at fixed intervals gives even coverage and is easy to justify; stratified sampling matches the proportions in the population. Always justify the choice with reference to the enquiry, not in the abstract.
Explore the idea
Part 11 of 21
Learn
Risk and reliability
Identify risks and mitigation for any site. Reliability improves with repeat readings, consistent equipment and a large enough sample; state a specific weakness and its effect on your conclusion rather than writing 'we could have collected more data'.
Reset break
Part 12 of 21
Pause
That's sitting 3 of 5 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Quick check
Part 13 of 21
Quick check
Part 14 of 21
Explore the idea
Part 15 of 21
Worked example
Model answer: 'Justify one sampling method used in your enquiry' (4 marks)
We used systematic sampling, measuring channel width and velocity at ten sites at equal intervals down the river's long profile. This was appropriate because the hypothesis concerned change with distance downstream, so evenly spaced sites gave comparable coverage of the whole profile rather than clustering in accessible reaches. It also removed personal bias in choosing sites, and the fixed interval made the results straightforward to plot against distance, which strengthened the correlation we identified in analysis.
Reset break
Part 16 of 21
Pause
That's sitting 4 of 5 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Challenge round
Part 17 of 21
Game · Sort it
Which of these are true?
Drag each card into the right column. Tap a card first if dragging is fiddly.
True
Not true
Challenge round
Part 18 of 21
Game · Fill the gaps
Finish the sentences
Choose the word that belongs in each gap.
Question or hypothesis; selecting ____; collecting data; presenting data; analysing and drawing conclusions; evaluating.
Good ____ triangulate the two.
Random ____ avoids bias but may miss areas; systematic sampling at fixed intervals gives even coverage and is easy to justify; stratified sampling matches the proportions in the population.
Challenge round
Part 19 of 21
Game · Recall cards
Which stage comes immediately after collecting data?
Card 1 of 4
Mastery quiz
Part 20 of 21
Marked quiz
End of lesson quiz: Fieldwork enquiry: planning, sampling and data
4 questions, marked with the reasoning shown. No timer.
1. Which stage comes immediately after collecting data?
2. Which is secondary data?
3. When is stratified sampling most appropriate?
4. Which is a strong evaluation point?
Lesson round-up
Part 21 of 21
Lesson round-up
Ready when you are
Quiz score
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Points this lesson
0
Best run
0 in a row
Luna: 0 out of 4 on the practice checks. Only if you feel up to it — one more?
Ask LunaPart 1 of 21 · Watch & discover