Geographical Investigation

Geographical Investigation or GI for short is a form of geographical inquiry where students are required to investigate a geographical issue and demonstrate their learning by reflecting and taking action.

Stage 1:

Framing the GI

• Pose geographical questions using question frames

  • Types of question frames (e.g., 5W1H, Neighbour’s core questions)

Stage 2:

Collecting Data

• Use appropriate data collection methods

• Ensure accuracy and reliability of data

Primary data

• Map work

o Location of data collection sites

• Sampling method

o Convenience

o Simple random

o systematic random

• Surveys or interviews

o People’s awareness and use of different mobility options

o Impact of mobility options on people

o Improvements that can be made to the mobility options

• Field notes (e.g., types and level of activity at a train station during peak periods)

• Field sketches (e.g., features of new concept bus stop)

• Images (e.g., photographs of activities in town on a car-free Sunday)

Secondary data

• Online/library research

o Strategies taken by authorities or service providers in Singapore (e.g., Land Transport Authority)

Stage 3:

Analysing and presenting data

• Organise raw data

• Select appropriate data representations

• Maps (e.g., by marking out sustainable transport features)

• Graphs (e.g., simple bar graphs showing the results of survey questions)

• Images (e.g., photographs of activities during car-free Sunday)

• Field sketches (e.g., features along a park connector)

• Texts (e.g., survey responses from the residents)

Stage 4:

Drawing conclusions

• Provide evidence-based responses

• Spatial patterns (e.g., location of specific transport nodes)

• Relationships between variables (e.g., use of a mobility option and the carbon footprint arising from its use)

• Reasoned conclusions that answer the questions posed

Stage 5:

Reflecting and taking action

• Evaluate data collection methods

• Strengths and limitations of data collection methods

• Suggest ways to improve investigation

• Improvements/enhancements to investigation

• Propose ways to improve the relationship between the phenomenon and people

• Proposal for use of data (e.g., sharing a report on utilisation rate and residents’ perception of various mobility options with the transport authority)