IB Geography Fieldwork: Introduction and outline

Topic: An investigation into variations of beach characteristics in Hong Kong.

Location: Clearwater Bay area of Hong Kong two or three beaches.
Background: Coastal processes and features have already studied, including beaches,
beach profiles, deposition, transportation, wave energy, wave refraction, constructive
and destructive waves, etc.
Specific preparation for the fieldwork: 2 / 3 weeks class and homework in order to:
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Read around the topic and research relevant information about the location.
Set Aims and Hypotheses.
Decide what data is to be collected.
Decide how that data is to be collected (including sampling techniques to be
used).
To make sure that any equipment to be used is available.
To devise data recording tables.
To consider the types of presentations to be produced, eg photographs,
annotated sketches and maps, profiles, scattergraphs, etc so that these can be
planned for on the fieldtrip.
To collect any secondary data, such as climate figures, geology details, relief
maps, etc that might be relevant.
Start the write up of the Aims, Hypotheses and Methods sections.

Resources:
1) Books:
a) A-Z Advancing Geography: Fieldwork:
i) Beach and coastal studies, p18-23.
ii) Field sketching, p34-35.
iii) Beach quality surveys, p44.
iv) Photographing, p60.
v) Sampling, p74-79.
b) Geography Fieldwork Projects:
i) Possible investigations, p166-169.
ii) Techniques, p10-27 & 54-56.
c) Background texts:
i) Geography in Action.
ii) Landform Systems.
iii) Other geography texts / HK texts

2) Geography Review articles:

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Photography and fieldsketches in coursework

Exploring Secondary Data
Practical geography: dealing with loads of variables
Measurement in physical geography
Project pitfalls
Realistic fieldwork
Questions and hypotheses
Maps and graphs / Exploring data
Making the most of sketches and photos
ICT and fieldwork
Using maps for fieldwork
Photographs in coursework
Getting maximum marks from coursework

1.99
5.99
3.00
5.00
5.00
11.00
9.01
9.02
11.02
3.04
9.04
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11.05

3) IB materials:
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Requirements
Fieldwork written report
Assessment criteria
Sample A: The Bay Beach Model Study (just for looking at!)
Fieldwork report checklist for students
Word count regulations

4) Others:
a) Maps of the area.
b) Secondary data on geology, climate, tides, etc
Aims and Hypotheses:
You might include something about differences in beach characteristics: beach profiles,
the shape of the beach, the distribution of different materials on the beach, etc.
You would probably also look at the possible factors causing these differences:
sediment size, distance up the beach, tides, human influence, waves (energy,
refraction, etc), wind, aspect, geology, sea depth / gradient, vegetation, etc.
Remember that setting appropriate hypotheses to test is probably the most important
factor in ensuring that you can go on to produce an effective piece of coursework.
Hypotheses which suggest a relationship between beach characteristics and possible
causes are the easiest to test.
The word limit is strictly enforced. Think carefully about the number of hypotheses and
their depth and breadth. HL students could have 2 or 3 hypotheses and SL students 1
or 2.