Describe direction, strength, shape and unusual observations using figures and units. A scatter graph pairs two measurements for each observation. Do not join points as if they were a time sequence or assume a straight best-fit line suits every pattern.
Anomalies can reflect genuine local factors, random variation, instrument faults or recording errors. Check the evidence, retain an audit trail and explain any exclusion. Do not invent a cause when it is unknown.
Spearman’s rank coefficient describes the direction and strength of monotonic association in ranked paired observations. Coefficient and significance are distinct, with significance depending on sample size and an appropriate test. Neither establishes causation. Requirements and permitted techniques vary by exam board.
Invented river observations
Drawing conclusions
Answer the original enquiry and address a hypothesis if one was set. Give specific figures and units, discuss the main pattern and exceptions, then state the scope and uncertainty of the judgement. Evidence can support, challenge or leave a question unresolved.
The attached conclusion example uses an explicitly invented river dataset, not actual field results. Wider and narrower observations may support a general downstream pattern while showing local variation; discharge, geology, tributaries, management and other processes require further evidence. Correlation alone cannot isolate a cause.
Build an evidence-based conclusion
Evaluating the investigation
Reliability concerns consistency under comparable repeated conditions. Accuracy concerns closeness to a true or reference value, which may not be known exactly in the field. Validity concerns whether the selected methods and evidence answer the enquiry. Consistency does not guarantee accuracy or validity.
Separate random variability, systematic error and genuine environmental change. A tape with a calibration problem may be consistently wrong. Repeats can reveal spread, but checking equipment and definitions addresses different weaknesses. Specify the suspected error and its effect rather than writing only human error.
A larger sample and additional well-chosen sites can improve coverage and estimates, but do not automatically remove selection bias, non-response or instrument faults. Define the target population, area, times and relevant characteristics before judging representativeness.
Evaluate each practical limit in context: restricted access may omit a river section; one weekday count may miss weekend use. Match improvements to those omissions while retaining equal durations, clear boundaries, safe methods and comparable conditions where required. Secondary evidence also needs checks of date, location, method, definition and purpose.
Different weaknesses need different improvements
Presenting findings
Present a traceable chain from question through method, data, analysis and conclusion. Label tables and axes with variables and units, distinguish measured observations from invented examples, and cite secondary sources with their dates.
Evaluation should explain how a weakness could affect the inference and what feasible change would address it. Do not claim certainty just because a graph looks neat, or dismiss all findings merely because the enquiry has limitations.
Worked numerical examples
Invented counts of 18, 24 and 30 in equal ten-minute intervals have mean 24: add to obtain 72 and divide by three. The unit is people per ten-minute count, not a percentage or a daily total.
Invented widths of 2.1, 2.8, 3.5 and 3.2 m have range 1.4 m, found from maximum minus minimum. For the ordered counts 10, 11, 12, 13 and 104, the median is 12 while the mean is 30. This shows sensitivity to an extreme value, not proof that the value should be discarded.
Summaries of invented teaching datasets
投影片
Sign up free to view the lesson slides
Step through every slide for this topic — plus flashcards and revision notes — with a free account.
Aconsistency of results when an appropriate method is repeated under comparable conditions
Bcloseness to a reference value regardless of repeatability
Ca large number of decimal places alone
Dan attractive presentation
2.What is a conclusion?
Easy
Aa graph
Ba question
Ca method
Dan answer to the enquiry question using evidence
3.What is validity?
Easy
Athe weather
Btime taken
Cwhether the method measured what it intended to
Dthe number of results
4.What is accuracy?
Easy
Athe sample
Bcloseness to the true value
Cconsistency
Dthe number of sites
5.What is bias?
Easy
Asystematic distortion introduced by selection, measurement or interpretation
Bfairness
Caverages
Dmaps
6.What does Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient measure?
Easy
Adrawing maps
Bmeasuring distance
Ccollecting data
Dthe direction and strength of a monotonic association between ranked paired observations
7.What can a scatter graph help identify?
Easy
Atime
Branges
Cthe pattern of association between paired numerical variables
Dproportions
8.Which is a limitation of fieldwork?
Easy
Ano hazards
Blimited time and sites
Cunlimited time
Dperfect data
更多題目
9.What should a good conclusion include?
Easy
Aspecific evidence linked to the enquiry, with qualifications where needed
Bno evidence
Ca new question only
Dopinion
10.What can cause an anomalous result?
Easy
Ano cause
Ba perfect system
Ca graph
Da recording mistake, unusual local conditions or genuine variation
11.Why compare results with secondary data?
Easy
Ato copy
Bto stop
Cto check and add context
Dto avoid analysis
12.How might questionnaire bias occur?
Medium
Alarge samples
Bleading questions or an unrepresentative sample
Crandom sampling
Dequal groups
13.Which plan best separates repeatability from spatial coverage in a river-width enquiry?
Medium
Arepeat a defined bank-to-bank measurement at each site, and select additional sites to cover relevant river sections
Buse a different width definition at every site
Crepeat only the most convenient site and claim it represents the whole river
Dincrease the sample while leaving a known tape calibration fault uncorrected
14.Why might weather affect a coastal study?
Medium
Ait never does
Bit removes the beach
Cit makes data perfect
Dwave conditions change measurements
15.What is an outlier?
Medium
Athe mean
Bthe mode
Can observation unusually far from the rest or from an expected pattern
Dthe average
16.Why state the limitations of your data?
Medium
Ato avoid analysis
Bto show the extent to which conclusions can be trusted
Cto reduce marks
Dto hide results
17.Which example identifies a specific observer error?
Medium
Arecording 0.8 m as 8 m when copying a measurement
Ba river genuinely rising after rain
Ca sample covering all intended zones
Da correctly calibrated instrument giving a stable reading
18.An enquiry predicts a positive association between river width and distance downstream. The sample shows only a weak positive association. Which conclusion is proportionate?
Medium
Athe data proves distance alone caused every width change
Ball rivers must have exactly the same pattern
Cweak association proves the measurements were fabricated
Dthe sample gives limited support to the predicted direction, with substantial unexplained variation
19.Why should a conclusion from one site be qualified when the enquiry concerns a whole region?
Medium
Ait is perfect
Bit is large
Cit may not represent other places
Dit always does
20.For an arithmetic mean, what happens to the influence of one fixed-size recording error as the number of otherwise unchanged valid observations increases?
Medium
Athe range must become smaller
Bits contribution to the mean decreases because it is divided by a larger number
Cit necessarily disappears completely
Devery systematic bias is automatically removed
21.How could you improve a pedestrian count study?
Medium
Acount at different times and days
Bcount once at midnight
Cavoid the high street
Dskip data
22.What is the mean?
Easy
Athe middle value
Bthe most common value
Cthe range
Dthe sum divided by the number of values
23.What is the range?
Easy
Athe total
Bthe middle
Chighest minus lowest
Dthe average
24.What is a representative sample?
Medium
Aone that is biased
Ba sample that reflects relevant characteristics of the defined target population
Cone that is small
Done that is convenient
25.What is a 'limitation'?
Medium
Aa weakness that affects results
Ba perfect point
Ca graph
Da map
26.A conclusion should answer the enquiry question.
Easy
True or false?
27.Repeating a standard measurement under comparable conditions can help assess reliability.
Easy
True or false?
28.Anomalies should be ignored without comment.
Easy
True or false?
29.A single site is always representative.
Easy
True or false?
30.Bias helps make results more accurate.
Medium
True or false?
31.Which could strengthen a fieldwork investigation if appropriate to its enquiry?
Medium
Amore sites
Brepeat measurements
Clarger sample
Dconsistent methods
Eignoring errors
32.Which are parts of an evaluation?
Medium
Areliability
Baccuracy
Cbias
Dlimitations
Ecopying others
33.Evaluate the reliability of a river study that measured velocity at only three sites once.
Medium
34.Illustrative pedestrian counts in three equal ten-minute periods were 18, 24 and 30. What is their mean count per ten-minute period?
Medium
35.Illustrative river widths are 2.1 m, 2.8 m, 3.5 m and 3.2 m. What is the range in metres?
Medium
36.Five illustrative counts are 10, 11, 12, 13 and 104. Which is their median?
Medium
A104
B12
C30
D94
37.A sample shows pedestrian counts generally decreasing as distance from the main shopping entrance increases. What does that pattern describe?
Medium
Anegative association in the sampled observations
Bproof of the sole cause of every person’s movement