Fieldwork, Enquiry and Data Analysis
What this domain tests
This domain covers the fieldwork cycle: question, method, sampling, data collection, presentation, analysis and evaluation. It tests whether you can justify methods and recognise limitations.
Core rules and concepts
- A good enquiry has a focused question, a suitable site, a repeatable method and a clear risk assessment.
- Sampling can be random, systematic or stratified; each reduces bias in different ways. Sample size affects reliability.
- Data can be primary or secondary, quantitative or qualitative; presentation must suit the data.
- Analysis looks for patterns and anomalies; evaluation judges reliability, accuracy and whether the conclusion answers the question.
Worked example
A student measures pebble size at 20 points along a beach and finds the mean is 4.2 cm, but one reading is 18 cm. Reasoning: the outlier may be a rock or a measurement error; it inflates the mean. The median would be more resistant. The student should check the record, keep or justify excluding the value, and report both the pattern and the anomaly.
Traps
Do not say the data is reliable just because there are many numbers; reliability depends on method and repeats. Do not confuse accuracy with precision. Do not change the enquiry question after collecting data. Do not ignore anomalies; explain them.