The route to enquiry for the independent investigation, including questions, data collection, presentation, analysis and evaluation.

What this dot point is asking

WJEC wants you to plan and carry out an independent investigation (the non-examined assessment), following the route to enquiry from question to evaluation, using fieldwork and justified methods.

The answer

The route to enquiry

A strong investigation begins with a focused, geographical question that can realistically be answered with available data, linked to a concept from the specification (for example coastal processes, urban change or ecosystems). Clear hypotheses give the analysis direction, for example "beach sediment size decreases with distance along the coast in the direction of longshore drift", which is specific, located and testable.

Data collection and sampling

Random sampling gives every point an equal chance and avoids bias but may cluster; systematic sampling (every $n$th point or fixed interval) gives even coverage and suits transects; stratified sampling divides the population into subgroups and samples each in proportion, ensuring all groups are represented. Collect primary data through fieldwork (measurements, pedestrian counts, questionnaires, environmental quality indices) and secondary data from sources such as the census, the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation, maps and official statistics. Plan for a risk assessment, ethics and safety, especially for coastal and river fieldwork where tides and flow are hazards.

Presentation, analysis and evaluation

Present data with techniques chosen to suit it: located bar charts, choropleth maps, scatter graphs, flow lines, kite diagrams and proportional symbols, each appropriate to a particular data type. Analyse with appropriate statistics: Spearman's rank correlation ($r_s$) for the strength and direction of a relationship, mean and standard deviation for average and spread, and significance tests such as Mann-Whitney U to compare two samples, rather than judging patterns by eye. Reach conclusions that answer the hypotheses with evidence, then evaluate honestly: reliability, validity, sample limitations and how the study could be improved.

Examples in context

Example 1. A coastal investigation in Wales. A common WJEC independent investigation tests coastal processes on a Welsh beach, for example whether sediment size or beach gradient changes along a stretch of the Ceredigion or Pembrokeshire coast in response to longshore drift. Students use systematic sampling along a transect, measure pebble long-axis size and gradient with a clinometer, present results as scatter graphs and located bar charts, and apply Spearman's rank to test the relationship. The investigation links directly to the changing-landscapes content and shows the full route to enquiry on accessible local ground.

Example 2. An urban or rural change investigation. Another frequent enquiry examines urban or rural change, for example variation in environmental quality, pedestrian flow or deprivation across districts of Cardiff or Swansea, or the impact of second homes in a Gwynedd village. Students combine primary data (environmental quality surveys, questionnaires, counts) with secondary data (the census, the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation), using stratified sampling to represent different areas, choropleth maps to present spatial patterns, and Mann-Whitney U to compare two areas. This case shows how human-geography enquiries follow the same justified, evaluated route to enquiry.

Try this

Q1. Define a stratified sampling strategy. [2 marks]

• Cue. Dividing the population into subgroups (strata) and sampling each in proportion, so the sample represents the whole.

Q2. Explain why a statistical test such as Spearman's rank improves an investigation. [3 marks]

• Cue. It tests the strength and direction of a relationship objectively and lets you judge significance, rather than relying on a subjective reading of a graph.