The nature, requirements and assessment of the Independent Investigation (the non-examined assessment): an independent, fieldwork-based enquiry of around 3000 to 4000 words using primary and secondary data, structured through the enquiry process and marked against OCR's criteria.

What this dot point is asking

OCR requires you to understand the Independent Investigation (the non-examined assessment): its nature and requirements, the independent, fieldwork-based enquiry of around 3000 to 4000 words using primary and secondary data, its structure through the enquiry process, and how it is assessed. It is worth 60 marks and 20 percent of the A-Level.

The answer

The nature and requirements of the Independent Investigation

The investigation must be genuinely independent: the student devises the question, designs the methodology, collects and analyses the data, and writes the report themselves, though teachers may advise. It must be based on fieldwork (drawing on the required minimum four days) and may address any part of the specification, physical, human or a combination. It must use both primary data (collected first-hand) and secondary data (from existing sources), with an appropriate, justified sampling strategy and a risk assessment. It is marked by the centre against OCR's criteria and moderated by OCR to ensure consistency.

Structure through the enquiry process

The report is structured through the enquiry process introduced in the fieldwork dot point. A typical structure runs: an introduction stating the focused question or hypothesis and its geographical context and theory; a methodology justifying the data-collection methods, sampling strategy and risk assessment; data presentation using appropriate maps, graphs and tables; analysis applying statistical and qualitative techniques and linking findings to theory; a conclusion answering the question with evidence; and a critical evaluation of reliability, limitations and improvements. Each stage builds on the previous one, so a weak question undermines everything that follows, which is why the design stage is so important.

Assessment and what gains marks

The Independent Investigation chiefly assesses AO3 (the use of fieldwork and skills to investigate, analyse and conclude), with some AO1 and AO2. OCR's marking criteria reward, in essence: a clear, justified enquiry design (focused question, sound methodology and sampling, risk assessment); effective data collection and presentation; rigorous analysis (appropriate statistics, links to theory, interpretation); a valid, evidenced conclusion; and a critical evaluation of reliability, accuracy, bias and improvements. Independence and the coherent flow of the enquiry are themselves credited. The recurring message is that method and critical thinking, not just data, earn marks: a measured conclusion that acknowledges its data's limitations outscores a bold one that ignores them.

Examples in context

Example 1. A physical investigation: beach sediment. A student investigates whether sediment size decreases along a beach in the direction of longshore drift, sampling pebbles systematically at intervals along the beach, measuring their size and roundness, and analysing the relationship with Spearman's rank, supported by secondary data on wave direction. The report follows the full enquiry structure and evaluates sampling reliability and the influence of a single survey date. It exemplifies an independent physical enquiry grounded in coastal process theory, linking directly to the coastal landscapes dot point.

Example 2. A human investigation: gentrification. A student investigates the extent of gentrification in a local neighbourhood, combining primary data (an environmental quality survey, resident questionnaires, land-use mapping, photographs) with secondary census and house-price data, using stratified sampling across sub-areas. Analysis links the evidence to the concept of gentrification, and evaluation addresses questionnaire bias and the limits of a small sample. It exemplifies an independent human enquiry grounded in the Changing Spaces; Making Places content and the place-study skills.

Try this

Q1. State two requirements of the OCR Independent Investigation. [2 marks]

• Cue. Any two of: an independent, student-devised question or hypothesis; based on the student's own fieldwork; uses primary and secondary data; around 3000 to 4000 words; includes a justified sampling strategy and risk assessment.

Q2. Explain why the evaluation section is important to the quality of the investigation. [3 marks]

• Cue. It assesses the reliability, accuracy and limitations of the data and methods and the validity of the conclusion, demonstrating critical understanding of the whole enquiry and bounding the confidence of the conclusion, which is heavily rewarded in the marking criteria.