GCSE Geography | Gathering and using data, primary or secondary

Geography Quiz - Gathering and Using Data (Questions)

GCSE Geography fieldwork needs good data. This quiz looks at how geographers collect information, record it clearly and use results to reach reliable conclusions.

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Fascinating Fact:

Geographers record data carefully in tables, field sketches, photographs, and annotated maps, so that results can be checked and repeated.

In GCSE Geography, gathering and using data is a vital part of fieldwork. You will consider how to collect information, choose good samples, and present results so patterns are clear.

Key Terms

Data collection: The process of gathering information, such as counts, measurements or observations during a geography investigation.
Sampling: Selecting part of a population or area to study so that it represents the whole as accurately as possible.
Reliability: How trustworthy data is, for example whether results are consistent and could be repeated with similar outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What does data collection mean in GCSE Geography?

In GCSE Geography, data collection means gathering information for an enquiry, for example measuring river depth, counting traffic or recording opinions in a questionnaire.

How do geographers make sure their data is reliable?

Geographers improve reliability by repeating measurements, checking equipment, using clear recording sheets and choosing sampling methods that reduce bias in the results.

Why is presenting data important in geography fieldwork?

Presenting data in graphs, tables and maps helps geographers spot patterns, compare places and explain their conclusions clearly to other people.

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Which of the following is not involved in handling data during your geography fieldwork?

[ ]	Drawing maps
[ ]	Drawing conlusions
[ ]	Taking an exam
[ ]	Carrying out interviews or surveys

Primary data is:

[ ]	Data collected by the investigator
[ ]	Data collected from the internet
[ ]	Data collected from an atlas
[ ]	Data collected from a book

Which of the following is NOT an example of a student collecting secondary data?

[ ]	Visiting the local council offices to find population information from the past
[ ]	Obtaining information about land use from old maps
[ ]	Using library books to find the GDP of LEDCs in Africa
[ ]	Observing and recording the numbers of people at different distances from a shopping centre

Which of the following sources would you use to obtain data about changes to transport links of a small town?

[ ]	Field sketching
[ ]	A belt transect
[ ]	Maps
[ ]	Observation

A student wants to collect primary data about a river in their locality. Which of the following would NOT supply primary data?

[ ]	Old photographs of the river
[ ]	Measuring the flow rate of the water
[ ]	Sketching river features
[ ]	Observing the wildlife on and near to the river

A student carries out a survey of whether people want a bypass road building to take traffic away from the town centre. The results of their survey of 100 local people is analysed and produces a percentage of people for, against and not bothered. Which of the following would NOT be an appropriate way to present their findings?

[ ]	A pie chart
[ ]	A bar chart
[ ]	A table
[ ]	Scatter graph with a trend line

Which of the following techniques could be used to collect population data?

[ ]	GIS and photographs
[ ]	Visiting a library and GIS
[ ]	Maps and observation
[ ]	Measuring and sketching

Which of the following is NOT a data processing technique?

[ ]	Recording answers to survey questions
[ ]	Drawing a map to show the results of your data
[ ]	Drawing a bar chart
[ ]	Organising data into a table

Which of the following would be an appropriate method of processing data to discover if there is a relationship between GNP and life expectancy?

[ ]	Pie chart
[ ]	Scatter graph
[ ]	Histogram
[ ]	Gantt chart

10.

A student collects weather data for an environment. One of the data sets is the temperature taken over a period of time using a datalogger. Which of the following would be the most appropriate way of presenting this data?

[ ]	Line graph
[ ]	Pie chart
[ ]	Map
[ ]	Table

Geography Quiz - Gathering and Using Data (Answers)

Which of the following is not involved in handling data during your geography fieldwork?

[ ]	Drawing maps
[ ]	Drawing conlusions
[x]	Taking an exam
[ ]	Carrying out interviews or surveys

These are just a few of the things that you will do during fieldwork, others include taking measurements, sketching buildings, noting land use, carrying out sampling using transects or quadrats ... it's a very long list!

Primary data is:

[x]	Data collected by the investigator
[ ]	Data collected from the internet
[ ]	Data collected from an atlas
[ ]	Data collected from a book

Collecting useful primary data needs careful planning of your fieldwork

Which of the following is NOT an example of a student collecting secondary data?

[ ]	Visiting the local council offices to find population information from the past
[ ]	Obtaining information about land use from old maps
[ ]	Using library books to find the GDP of LEDCs in Africa
[x]	Observing and recording the numbers of people at different distances from a shopping centre

Observing and recording provides primary data

Which of the following sources would you use to obtain data about changes to transport links of a small town?

[ ]	Field sketching
[ ]	A belt transect
[x]	Maps
[ ]	Observation

Maps of different ages are a good store of information from the past

A student wants to collect primary data about a river in their locality. Which of the following would NOT supply primary data?

[x]	Old photographs of the river
[ ]	Measuring the flow rate of the water
[ ]	Sketching river features
[ ]	Observing the wildlife on and near to the river

Unless the old photographs had been taken by the student specifically for the purposes of this fieldwork, they would be classed as secondary data

[ ]	A pie chart
[ ]	A bar chart
[ ]	A table
[x]	Scatter graph with a trend line

There is only one data set, scatter graphs require two

Which of the following techniques could be used to collect population data?

[ ]	GIS and photographs
[x]	Visiting a library and GIS
[ ]	Maps and observation
[ ]	Measuring and sketching

GIS contain a lot of useful information and you should always consider it when planning your fieldwork. It may not be appropriate in every case but should never be overlooked as a data source

Which of the following is NOT a data processing technique?

[x]	Recording answers to survey questions
[ ]	Drawing a map to show the results of your data
[ ]	Drawing a bar chart
[ ]	Organising data into a table

Recording answers is classed as gathering data, processing is what you do with the results once you have them

Which of the following would be an appropriate method of processing data to discover if there is a relationship between GNP and life expectancy?

[ ]	Pie chart
[x]	Scatter graph
[ ]	Histogram
[ ]	Gantt chart

Scatter graphs are used to test if there is a connection between two data sets

10.

[x]	Line graph
[ ]	Pie chart
[ ]	Map
[ ]	Table

Line graphs can be used with continuous data to spot trends or show changes over time

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Geography Quiz - Gathering and Using Data (Questions)

Fascinating Fact:

Key Terms

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

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