Contemporary Issues and Field Study/Project Work
This section links geographical issues to investigative method. The exam tests whether you can identify a contemporary problem, explain its causes and effects, and describe a feasible field study or project with valid data collection and reporting.
Contemporary issues
Climate change, urban sprawl, air and water pollution, solid waste, migration, water scarcity and regional imbalance are recurring themes. In Maharashtra, these appear as Mumbai's waste and flood risk, Pune's traffic and air quality, drought in parts of Marathwada, and seasonal migration from drought-prone villages.
Field study sequence
A sound project follows a sequence: identify the problem; state objectives; frame a hypothesis; choose the study area; design sampling; prepare a questionnaire or observation sheet; collect primary data and secondary data; tabulate and map; analyse; conclude; suggest remedies; write references.
Sampling may be random, systematic or stratified. A questionnaire should avoid leading questions and personal intrusion. Primary data are collected first-hand; secondary data come from census reports, municipal records or published maps.
Worked example
A study of household waste in one municipal ward sets the objective of measuring segregation at source. The hypothesis is that less than half of households segregate waste. From 800 households, 50 are selected by systematic random sampling. A short questionnaire records segregation practice, awareness and collection frequency. Data are tabulated by street and shown in a bar graph. If 18 of 50 segregate, the finding is 36%, supporting the hypothesis. The reasoning links a clear objective, a representative sample and a measurable indicator.
Traps
Do not plagiarise a report. Do not claim causation from a simple correlation. Avoid a biased sample such as only households near the collection point. Distinguish primary from secondary data. A project without methodology cannot be verified.