Evaluate Your Enquiry
Finishing a fieldwork enquiry well: reaching a conclusion that answers the aim, then judging the limitations, anomalies and reliability of the work and what further data would improve it.
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Free interactive practice at using the material, which is what the marks are for.
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Judging your enquiry
The last two strands of a fieldwork enquiry are where the best marks are won. Once the data is collected, presented and analysed, you reach a conclusion, a clear answer to the original question that is backed by your evidence and tied to your aim. Then comes the evaluation, which is not about the geography but about the enquiry itself. You judge its limitations, such as a sample that was too small or data gathered on only one day. You look for anomalies, results that do not fit the pattern, and ask whether your conclusion is reliable. Finally you suggest what further data would improve the study. A strong evaluation is honest and critical, not a claim that everything went perfectly. This module covers concluding and evaluating.
Evaluation words
Learn these before you judge any enquiry, and remember an honest evaluation admits the weaknesses.
A conclusion against an evaluation
The final two strands are easy to muddle, so it helps to see how they differ.
How to evaluate an enquiry
Turn a critical eye on your own work. Ask where the method fell short: was the sample large enough, was it taken on enough days, could the collector have been biased. Pick out any results that do not fit and ask why. Then judge how far the conclusion can really be trusted, and name the extra data that would make it stronger. Being honest about weaknesses scores more than claiming the enquiry was flawless, so evaluate rather than simply describe.
Match the term to what it does
- a conclusion
- an evaluation
- an anomaly
- further data
- answers the original question from the evidence
- judges how good the enquiry itself was
- a result that does not fit the pattern
- extra evidence that would improve the enquiry
Conclusion or evaluation?
A student writes that their sample of only five sites was too small to be sure of the result. Which strand of the enquiry is this?
- The evaluation.
- The conclusion.
- The question or hypothesis.
- Collecting the data.
A strong evaluation
Select the TWO things a strong evaluation does.
- Points out the limitations of the method
- Suggests what further data would help
- Claims the enquiry was perfect
- Hides the anomalies in the data
Usable readings
A student took 20 readings but found 4 of them were anomalies and set them aside. Subtract to find how many usable readings remain.
Order finishing the enquiry
Put the final strands of the enquiry in order, earliest first.
- Analyse the presented data
- Reach a conclusion tied to the aim
- Evaluate the method and the reliability
- Suggest further data to improve it
Complete the facts
The answer to the original question, backed by the data, is the _____. A judgement of how good the enquiry itself was is the _____. A result that does not fit the pattern is an _____. How far the results can be trusted and repeated is their _____.
Match the limitation to its fix
- the sample was too small
- data was gathered on only one day
- the sampling spot was biased
- an odd result was ignored
- collect more data next time
- repeat the survey on several days
- sample more widely across the area
- check and explain the anomaly
Spot the true evaluation facts
Tap the TWO statements that are true about evaluating an enquiry.
- A good evaluation admits the limitations of the method
- A good evaluation suggests further data to improve the study
- The best evaluation says the enquiry was perfect
- A conclusion should ignore the original aim
Evaluate it
Read each case and choose the best response, with a reason.
- A student measured a river at just three points on one afternoon. What is the honest evaluation point?
- One reading is far higher than all the others and does not fit the trend. What should the student do?
- A student concludes the enquiry but stops there. What would make the answer stronger?
Evaluate the enquiry
A student has finished collecting and analysing data for a river enquiry using a small sample from a single visit. Explain how they should conclude and evaluate the enquiry.
- Explain how to reach a conclusion tied to the original aim
- Explain what evaluating the enquiry means
- Identify a limitation of a small, one-off sample
- Explain how anomalies and reliability should be judged
- Finish with a suggestion of further data that would improve the enquiry