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New
New
Year 10
Edexcel B

Formulating an enquiry question

I can use research frameworks to create good enquiry questions.

icon-background-square
New
New
Year 10
Edexcel B

Formulating an enquiry question

I can use research frameworks to create good enquiry questions.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. An enquiry question helps geographers to learn more about the world when they do fieldwork.
  2. A good enquiry question guides the geographer through the enquiry process, is linked to place and uses precise language.
  3. Enquiry questions come from different ways of conducting fieldwork known as research frameworks.

Keywords

  • Enquiry - a way of learning new information about a place by following a set course of activities or tasks

  • Hypothesis - a prediction taken at the start of the enquiry that can then be tested

  • Research framework - the type of geographical research on which the enquiry will focus

Common misconception

A good enquiry question is answered in the data collection stage.

A good enquiry question guides you through all stages of the enquiry to help you find an answer.

You may wish to highlight how many geographical facts and concepts students have already experienced have come about because geographers of the past used geographical enquiry questions. Top geographers working in universities today continue to use enquiry questions to direct their research.
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Teacher tip
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Equipment

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Content guidance

  • Risk assessment required - outdoor learning
supervision-level

Supervision

Adult supervision required

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Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on
Open Government Licence version 3.0
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following describes fieldwork?
Correct answer: Observing and recording data in the real world.
A visit to a place outside of school.
The precise place where geographical data is collected.
Q2.
Geographers might use the 6 W questions to help them find out about a place. Which W question is missing from this set? Who, When, What, How, Where,
Correct Answer: Why
Q3.
Why do geographers ask questions during fieldwork?
To highlight a problem or issue in an area.
Correct answer: To find out specific information about a place.
Correct answer: To help them collect the right type of data.
To help people enjoy a visit to an area more.
Q4.
In which of these locations is a fieldwork enquiry most likely to take place?
A garden
Correct answer: A beach
A classroom
Correct answer: A town centre
A library
Q5.
Match the fieldwork activity to the most suitable location.
Correct Answer:A beach,Measuring the shape of the landscape
tick

Measuring the shape of the landscape

Correct Answer:A town centre,Recording people’s opinions about a new shopping development
tick

Recording people’s opinions about a new shopping development

Correct Answer:A national park,Observing how farming has changed land use
tick

Observing how farming has changed land use

Correct Answer:A housing estate,Researching the age and condition of people’s homes
tick

Researching the age and condition of people’s homes

Q6.
A assessment is a document and set of actions that geographers follow to make their fieldwork as safe as possible.
Correct Answer: risk

4 Questions

Q1.
What is the definition of an enquiry?
A prediction taken at the start of an investigation that can be tested.
Correct answer: A structured piece of research into a place and the processes happening there.
A category for a type of research into a place.
Q2.
Place these stages of a fieldwork enquiry in the correct order.
1 - Enquiry question
2 - Data collection
3 - Data presentation
4 - Data analysis
5 - Conclusion
6 - Evaluation
Q3.
A good enquiry question...
is answered in the data collection stage.
starts with the word 'why' or 'how'.
Correct answer: guides the geographer through the enquiry process.
can be used in lots of different locations.
Q4.
Which research framework is being used with this enquiry question? 'To what extent do the sand dunes at Camber Sands show the typical characteristics of sand dunes in succession?'
Correct answer: Comparing a place to a geographical model or theory
Assessing the impact of a change
Comparing two places
Assessing the need for a change to happen