icon-background-square
New
New
Year 11
AQA

Analysing geographical data

I can analyse geographical data and use my findings to create different types of conclusions.

icon-background-square
New
New
Year 11
AQA

Analysing geographical data

I can analyse geographical data and use my findings to create different types of conclusions.

warning

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Quantitative data can be analysed using the GRaDE framework and simple statistical tests.
  2. Qualitative data can be analysed through coding and discourse analysis.
  3. Geographical conclusions are made through careful analysis of all the data geographers have collected.

Keywords

  • Correlation - where a change in one variable appears to be paired against a change in another variable

  • Empirical evidence - evidence collected through direct observation and experience rather than through logical thinking

  • Confirmation bias - concluding what one believes to be true by basing one's ideas on some, but not all, of the evidence collected

Common misconception

A geographer has to be good at maths to successfully analyse quantitative data.

Successful analysis in geography means correctly understanding what numerical values mean, not necessarily being able to process and manipulate data.

Students can think about data evidence along a sliding scale, with ‘fact’ at one end, ‘assumption’ in the centre and ‘inconclusive’ at the other end. As they look at different types of data they can suggest where on the scale they should place their evidence if they wish to make a conclusion.
speech-bubble
Teacher tip
equipment-required

Equipment

copyright

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on
Open Government Licence version 3.0
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

Loading...

6 Questions

Q1.
Quotes from people who live in an area would be described as …
Correct answer: stakeholder data.
observer data.
discrete data.
continuous data.
Q2.
Sort these phrases into the correct order to complete the sentence. A bar chart shows …
1 - discrete data
2 - with its bars separated,
3 - while a histogram shows
4 - continuous data
5 - with its bars touching.
Q3.
Spatial data is presented using a ...
Correct answer: map.
bar chart.
line chart.
scattergraph.
Q4.
What is the name of the data presentation which uses stacks of symbols to show the value of something in a graph?
Pie chart
Correct answer: Pictogram
Scattergraph
Radial graph
Q5.
The largest word in a word is the word that was used most often.
Correct Answer: cloud
Q6.
The purpose of data presentation is to allow geographers to ...
make beautiful graphs and maps.
Correct answer: find patterns in the data.
highlight different types of data.
make the data stand out.

4 Questions

Q1.
A statement where the evidence suggests a strong indication that something is true is known as …
empirical evidence.
Correct answer: an interpretation.
an assumption.
a false conclusion.
Q2.
The three measures of central tendency are mean, mode and .
Correct Answer: median
Q3.
Sort these steps into the correct order if someone wanted to code an interview transcript.
1 - Read the transcript carefully.
2 - Note the main themes that need to be coded.
3 - Create letter or number codes for each of the main themes.
4 - Highlight these themes and write the correct letter or number code next to it.
Q4.
Which of the following statements is true?
Correct answer: Data analysis involves understanding what numerical values mean.
To do data analysis you have to be good at maths.
Geographers use the GRaIN acronym to help them describe data.
Correct correlations are always positive.