Lesson video

Hello, my name is Chloe, and I'm a Geography Field Studies tutor.

This lesson is called Fieldwork: Planning an air pollution enquiry and collecting data, and it forms part of a unit of work called Anthropocene: What impact have humans had on the world? We're going to be looking at one problem which is caused by humans, and that is air pollution, and we're going to be thinking about that issue in our local area.

We're going to be planning an enquiry which will investigate the impact it has, but also how people feel about it.

Let's get started.

By the end of this lesson, you will have been able to collect data about air pollution as part of a fieldwork enquiry.

There's some key words that we want to review, first of all.

Particulate matter is really what this study is all based on.

This is tiny particles that are held in the air such as dust, ash, and soot.

Primary data is data that is collected by geographers themselves in the field.

Secondary data is data that's been collected by someone else, but not necessarily an expert in that topic area.

This lesson is in two parts.

We're first of all going to be thinking about how we might plan a piece of fieldwork around air pollution, and then we're going to be thinking about how we can collect data.

First of all, let's look at how we will start our planning.

Geographers often use inquiries when they carry out fieldwork.

A geographical fieldwork enquiry means that we are thinking about what needs to be investigated, we formulate an enquiry question, we follow a set enquiry structure, and we make predictions about the outcome of the enquiry.

Let's have a look at that structure now.

We start with the enquiry question.

This is a question about the place that you are interested in.

We then go out and collect some data, we measure and record it, and we use this to help answer our enquiry question.

Data presentation involves presenting data using maps and graphs.

We then look at data analysis.

This is where we think about patterns in our data and we think about also what the data is trying to tell us.

This leads into a conclusion where we answer our enquiry question based on the data that we've collected.

And finally, we evaluate.

We think about how we carried out our enquiry and what we would change to improve it if we were thinking about the accuracy of our conclusions.

Let's check our understanding of the enquiry structure.

Which option shows the correct order for a fieldwork enquiry? There's three options there.

All of the stages of the enquiry are listed, but which one shows them in the right order? Pause the video so you can read the options and then come back to me.

Let's take a look at the answer.

Yes, well done.

It's B.

We start with a question.

We then collect data.

We then present that data.

And then analyse it, form a conclusion, and then we evaluate the study.

Well done if you got that.

So, let's begin with that first part of the enquiry structure by looking at our question.

In this fieldwork enquiry, the title question is this, should people be more concerned about air pollution in our local area? The data that we require to answer this question is particulate matter data from different locations, local people's opinions on air pollution, and we're also going to be looking at health data for the local area, too.

There are different types of air pollution.

There's chemical pollution, things like carbon monoxide gas, biological pollution, such as mould and bacteria, and physical pollution, such as particulate matter and things like soot, ash and dust that are held up in the air.

Particulate matter commonly comes from road vehicles.

You'll get wear and tear on the tyres and brakes and these create small particles which then end up in the air.

There is also particles that come from the engine exhaust fumes.

Particulate matter can also come from building sites, farmland and from homes that have wood burning stoves.

This means that some parts of a local area are likely to contain higher particulate matter levels than others.

A road junction, especially one with traffic lights, means vehicles will be waiting with their engines on and this could be known as idling.

Particulate matter levels are therefore likely to be higher there.

In a park or a playing field, there's likely to be lower levels of particulate matter because there's no sources of pollution and the surrounding trees act as an air filter.

A hypothesis is a statement that can be tested.

Geographers use hypotheses to help them answer their enquiry question and focus their ideas.

Jun and Sofia have made some hypotheses.

Let's have a look at those now.

Jun says, "I hypothesise that air pollution will be highest around road junctions, so people will be keen to reduce air pollution here as we live in a built up area." Sofia says, "I hypothesise that people might be angry about the amount of air pollution near the roads but I don't think they will be willing to change their behaviour to stop it." Let's check our understanding of those ideas.

True or false? Particulate matter is made up of chemical pollution such as harmful guesses.

Pause the video here, have a think.

Tell me if it's true or false.

Let's check your answer.

Yes, it's false, but why is that statement a false one? Well done if you recognised that particulate matter is a physical form of air pollution, such as soot, ash or dust.

Chemical pollution is a very different type of thing.

Now we move on to our first practise task.

Examine a map of your local area.

Identify areas where you think particulate matter levels might be high, and areas where you think those levels might be low.

Then, explain why you have chosen these locations.

Make a hypothesis focusing on how local people might feel about air pollution.

Now, of course, do pause the video here as you've got a little bit of work to do.

Then come back to me and I'll share some of my ideas, too.

So, let's take a look at your ideas now.

First of all, you were asked to examine a map of your local area and then to identify areas of potentially high and low particulate matter levels.

So, here's something your map might look like, and you might have high levels of particulate matter identified in one area and then low levels in another.

You were then asked to explain why you had chosen these locations.

Here's something your answer may include.

The road junction is likely to have high levels of particulate matter as vehicles pause here with their engines idling.

This means that particulate matter is likely to concentrate here.

The middle of the park is likely to have low levels of particulate matter as there are no vehicles moving through this space and the surrounding trees will act as a filter for any wind-blown particulate matter.

Then, you were asked finally to make a hypothesis focusing on how local people might feel about air pollution.

Here's something your answer may include.

I hypothesise that people will be very worried about local air pollution and will want to take actions to try to reduce its levels.

We now move on to the second part of this lesson where we're going to think about how we can collect data about air pollution.

So, here we are in the second stage, the data collection.

To measure particulate matter levels, capture cards can be made.

These can be hung in different areas to catch particulate matter.

All the capture cards should remain in place for the same 24-hour period in dry, calm weather to ensure a fair comparison is made between the cards.

To make a particulate matter capture card, here's what you do.

First of all, you cut out a piece of 10 x 10 squared graph paper and stick it onto a stiff piece of card.

You then cover the graph paper in double-sided sticky tape.

Do not pull the outer plastic backing off the tape.

Then, punch holes in the corners of the card and attach some fixings.

You can see here I've used rubber bands.

Once the capture card is in position, pull the backing off the tape so that a sticky surface is exposed to the air.

After 24 hours, remove the capture card from its location.

It's likely that some particular matter will have stuck to the card.

The number of squares in the 10 x 10 grid that contain particulates can be counted to give a measure of particulate matter level.

Let's check our understanding here.

Why should all the capture cards remain in position for the same 24-hour period? Is it A, to ensure a fair comparison can be made between the cards? Is it B, to ensure that the maximum amount of particulate matter can be measured? Or C, to ensure a large part of the local area can be surveyed? Pause the video here and have a think and then come back to me.

Well done if you remembered that it is A.

Yes, we want to make sure there's a good comparison possible between the different cards, so they should remain out in place for the same 24-hour period.

A questionnaire can be used to find out opinions.

This can be asked to members of the public in the local area.

Our questionnaire that we are going to use is going to have two questions.

Let's have a good look at those now.

First question, what emotion do you feel when you think about air pollution in this area? As Aisha says, "This is an open question.

This means that people can respond in any way they choose, and I can write down the emotion that they say." So, you simply ask people how they feel and that emotion is written down.

Question two is a little more complicated.

Let's take a look at it here.

It says to what extent are you in favour of these ways of reducing local air pollution? And there are four options available to the respondents.

No vehicle zones, in other words, close the roads off to any type of vehicle coming along.

Buses that are electric rather than diesel.

A new ULEZ.

That's an ultra low emission zone.

It means that if you enter that area in a vehicle which produces a lot of pollution, you will actually have to pay for that privilege.

And then finally, more cycle lanes, encouraging people to get on a bike rather than use a petrol or diesel vehicle.

You can see here that there are different ways that people can rate their favorability.

As Alex says, "People are given each option and asked if they are in favour of it or not.

I can then tick the box that matches their response." So, the range is from very favourable down to very unfavourable.

Let's have a look at Izzy and Andeep are looking at here.

Izzy says, "It would be interesting to look at local health data to see if air pollution might be affecting people." But as Andeep points out, "We can't really ask people about their health.

That's quite private information." How else could Izzy and Andeep get data about people's health? What do you think? The particulate matter levels collected from the capture cards and the opinions collected from the questionnaires are primary data.

Izzy and Andeep can collect this data themselves, but what about the health data? Health data can be collected from government sources.

This means it is secondary data.

Secondary data is collected by someone else who is often, but not always, an expert in their field.

Izzy now says, "I have asthma.

My doctor says high levels of air pollution can make asthma worse.

We should look into asthma and its links to air pollution." That's a good idea.

As Andeep says, "If we look up online the percentage of local people who have asthma we will have a better understanding of how concerned we should be about air pollution here." Let's check our understanding now.

True or false? Particulate matter level data that was collected by last year's students is a form of secondary data.

True or false? Have a think about what the definition of secondary data says and then come back to me with hopefully the right answer.

Well done if you got that it is true.

But why is that true? Yes, secondary data does not have to be collected by experts, but it does have to be collected by someone else.

So, last year's students are absolutely fine to be called secondary data collectors.

They have collected the data already.

Even though they're not experts, the data is still valid to be looked at.

Now, let's look at a practise task to finish off this lesson.

Look at a map of the local area around your school.

Choose a variety of sites for you to measure particulate matter level data using a capture card.

I would suggest four to six different sites.

Make particulate matter capture cards and position them in these locations for 24 hours.

Carry out at least 10 questionnaires on members of the public in the local area.

And then finally, research secondary data about asthma levels in your area.

You can see there's a lot to do here, so you're definitely going to want to pause the video.

When you come back to me, I'll talk you through some of the ideas that I have had.

So, first of all, you were asked to look at a map of your local area and choose sites where you would carry out your particular matter capture.

So, your answer might include something like this.

And I've chosen six areas and I've tried to use areas which were quite different from each other.

So, housing estate, some woodland, the school grounds, some traffic lights, so, a road junction, in the middle of the park, and I just chose the school driveway as well because I thought that would be an interesting place to see what particular matter level is like in the area closest to where I walk into school.

In the fourth task, you then had to research some secondary data about asthma levels in your area.

Your answer might include something like this.

I looked up asthma levels in my local area using a government website.

It told me that 6.

8% of people have asthma here.

That means that in my class it is likely that at least two people have it.

So, you might have some similar data for your area.

Let's summarise our understanding now.

Particulate matter is a form of physical air pollution and is commonly made up of tiny particles of soot, ash and dust.

Some areas, such as idling road junctions, are likely to have relatively high levels of particulate matter.

Capture cards can collect particulate matter and they allow us to compare levels in different locations.

Questionnaires can tell us how local people feel about air pollution and how to manage it.

Secondary data, such as the number of people who have asthma, can tell us further information that can help us understand our enquiry.

Well done.

There's always a lot to do in those first stages of a fieldwork enquiry.

All the planning and all the effort that you put into the data collection, though, will pay off because it will mean the rest of your enquiry will run much more smoothly.