GEOGRAPHICAL METHODS

1. How to design fieldwork? 

1. Research questions and hypotheses 

   1. Identify a topic or thesis from textbooks, news articles, and websites 

   2. Craft a question that outlines a specific scope and a measurable hypothesis about one or two variables 

2. Data collection sequence through primary and/or secondary sources 

   1. collect quantitative data, then design qualitative data collection to examine patterns and trends 

   2. collect qualitative data, then design quantitative data collection to verify observations 

3. Limitations and risks 

   1. Adjust research aim, study area, sample size, and timeframe according to available resources 

   2. Implement measures to avoid harming oneself, other people, and nature 

2. How to collect primary data? 

1. Sampling 

   1. Use non-probability sampling methods, including convenience and quota sampling 

   2. Use probability sampling methods, including simple random sampling and stratified random sampling 

2. Closed-ended questionnaire surveys 

   1. create pre-defined responses to questions that are limited to short phrases, single words or numbers 

   2. Use rating scales to guide responses, including the Likert scale, frequency scale, and ranking scale

3. Mental maps 

   1. Visualise experiences by drawing features and adding labels onto the base map of a study area 

   2. Conduct semi-structured interviews with open-ended questions exploring features and labels added to the map 

3. How to process and analyse data?

1. Closed-ended questionnaire surveys 

   1. interpret responses using measures of frequency, including counts and percentages

   2. interpret responses using measures of central tendency, including mean, mode, and median

2. Mental maps 

   1. analyse how well maps represent reality, and how features and labels are drawn or added

   2.  Examine how memories of experiences are represented on maps and described during semi-structured interviews \

3.  Relationships and patterns 

   1. visualise positive and negative correlations using scatter plots and best-fit lines 

   2.  identify recognisable geometric shapes, clusters, and repetition  

4. How to present findings? 

1. Maps 

   1. represent spatial information using dots, lines, and polygons 

   2. Provide title, date, orientation, scale, legend, author, and source(s) on maps 

2. Graphs 

   1. Use bar graphs and pie charts to show distributions 

   2. Use line graphs to show trends and relationships between two variables

3.  Photographs and texts 

   1. Use satellite and aerial images to display spatial information

   2.  Use colour-coded quotations and word clouds to represent qualitative analyses 

Click the link below to see some field work

1. Kovan Mall

2. Nature-based outdoor tourism 

3. Emergency preparedness for a terrorist attack

4. Katong-Joo Chiat neighborhood

5. Parks and Sense of Place

6. Variation in Urban Environment

7. A sense of place in Tiong Bahru Estate 

8. Rainforest Wild Asia 

9. Yee Twe Cycling infrastructure

10. Residential environment in Hong Kong.