Topic for investigation

Topic for Investigation

• Comprehend the importance of selecting an appropriate topic for your fieldwork project. Consider the feasibility, significance, and relevance of the topic to the geographical themes studied.
• Ensure that the research question or hypothesis is clear, focused, and realistically achievable within the allocated time and resources.
• Establish a clear link between the topic of investigation and the geographical theory, ensuring that the fieldwork aims to contribute to the understanding of this theory.
• Consider the spatial and temporal scales involved in the investigation – this involves understanding what geographical level the investigation will cover and in what timeframe the study will be conducted.

Variables and Sampling

• Identify the dependent and independent variables in the research topic, helping to guide the design of data collection and analysis.
• Understand the need for controlling extraneous variables that might influence the outcome of the investigation, ensuring that any change in the dependent variable is caused by the independent variable.
• Recognise the importance of determining an appropriate sample size for the investigation. This must be feasible to collect but also sufficient to avoid biases and to attain reliable results.
• Learn about different sampling methods: random sampling for unbiased representation, systematic sampling for regular patterns, stratified sampling for specific layers of the population, and cluster sampling for geographical convenience.

Data Requirement

• Identify the type of data required for the research topic – whether quantitative (numeric, measurable data) or qualitative (descriptive, non-numerical data).
• Consider the sources of data needed for the investigation. Primary data can be collected firsthand, while secondary data can be obtained from existing research or documented sources.
• Understand the relevance of geographical data to the chosen topic of investigation, such as the use of topographic maps for landscape studies, census data for population studies, or climate data for environmental studies.

Confirmation of Practicality

• Ensure that the chosen topic of investigation is practical – this means that it is doable in the given timeline, within your skillset, and complies with ethical and safety standards of fieldwork.
• Verify that the necessary permissions and access for data collection sites are attainable.
• Recognise the significance of cost implications for data collection methods and transportation to sites, to confirm the feasibility of the investigation.