Geography – 4. Geographical skills and investigations | e-Consult
4. Geographical skills and investigations (1 questions)
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To evaluate the reliability of the data collected during the river quality fieldwork, the student could consider the following factors:
- Replication: Taking multiple measurements at each location and calculating an average. A higher degree of agreement between measurements indicates greater reliability.
- Standardisation: Using the same methods and equipment for all measurements. This reduces the influence of personal error.
- Control of variables: Attempting to control for factors that could affect the data (e.g., time of day, water flow).
- Equipment Calibration: Ensuring that the equipment used (e.g., pH meter, water quality testing kit) is calibrated correctly.
- Sample Size: Taking a sufficient number of samples to ensure that the data is representative of the entire river. A larger sample size generally leads to more reliable results.
- Identifying and recording errors: Documenting any potential errors that occurred during the fieldwork (e.g., equipment malfunction, accidental spills).
- Peer Review: If possible, having another student observe the fieldwork and provide feedback on the methods used.