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Year 11
AQA

Collecting human geographical data

I can use questionnaires and surveys to collect a variety of human geographical data.

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New
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Year 11
AQA

Collecting human geographical data

I can use questionnaires and surveys to collect a variety of human geographical data.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Geographers can collect lots of different types of data during fieldwork.
  2. Questionnaires can be used to measure people's opinions.
  3. Specific surveys can be used to measure activity in, and the quality of, a settlement.

Keywords

  • Primary data - data that is collected in person during fieldwork

  • Secondary data - data that has previously been collected by someone, usually unknown to the person doing the fieldwork

  • Quantitative - data that is made up of numbers

  • Qualitative - data that is made up of text

Common misconception

Secondary data has to be collected by geographical experts.

Secondary data is often collected by experts or professional geographers but it can also be the data collected by other students in a different time frame.


To help you plan your year 11 geography lesson on: Collecting human geographical data, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

If students design their own questionnaire, they should test it on peers and family first. This is known as a pilot study. Students can then edit their questionnaire to remove or change any questions that are found to be ambiguous.
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Content guidance

  • Risk assessment required - outdoor learning
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Supervision

Adult supervision required

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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

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
In which stage of a fieldwork enquiry would the geographer go to a field site to record information?
Correct answer: data collection
data presentation
data analysis
evaluation
Q2.
The stage of a fieldwork enquiry is where the geographer reflects on the research they have done and makes suggestions for improvements.
Correct Answer: Evaluation, evaluation
Q3.
A good enquiry question uses language. This means the geographer knows exactly what aspects of the topic they are investigating.
Correct Answer: precise, exact, specific, particular
Q4.
Match each enquiry scale to the most likely location and enquiry for which it might be used.
Correct Answer:0.5 m x 0.5 m square,measuring species diversity in a small area of grassland
tick

measuring species diversity in a small area of grassland

Correct Answer:2 m x 2 m square,measuring how much litter there is directly outside the school gates
tick

measuring how much litter there is directly outside the school gates

Correct Answer:a 100 m length (transect),measuring how sediment size changes along a beach
tick

measuring how sediment size changes along a beach

Correct Answer:a 2 km length (transect),measuring how noise levels vary across a town
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measuring how noise levels vary across a town

Q5.
An enquiry question could assess …
Correct answer: The impact a change has had on people.
Correct answer: Whether there is a need for change in a place.
If a change has happened or not.
Why people change their minds.
Q6.
Put the letters below in the correct order to fill in the following gap: 'A meaningful enquiry question will have extra detail such as whether an impact is environmental, economic or __________.'
1 - S
2 - O
3 - C
4 - I
5 - A
6 - L

Exit quiz

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4 Questions

Q1.
What is quantitative data?
Data that is collected first-hand.
Data that is collected by someone else.
Correct answer: Numerical data.
Text data.
Q2.
data does not have to be collected by experts; it can also be collected by students from previous years.
Correct Answer: Secondary
Q3.
Match each type of data to the correct example of data being described.
Correct Answer:opinion,quotes from local people
tick

quotes from local people

Correct Answer:score,a rating of something on a numerical scale
tick

a rating of something on a numerical scale

Correct Answer:measurement,the size of something being observed
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the size of something being observed

Correct Answer:count,the frequency with which something happens
tick

the frequency with which something happens

Q4.
Which of the following would be classed as a Likert-style question?
Correct answer: To what extent do you agree that the town needs more jobs for young people?
Use three words to describe this part of the national park.
How often do you come to the market for shopping?
How do you feel about the new village recycling scheme?