Practical Work In Geography Part I Chapter 5 Field Surveys

B.

Secondary information

B.

Report writing

A.

Outlining the objectives

A.

Macro-level information

A field survey is required because there facilitate the collection of local level information. The field survey are carried out to gather required information so as the problem under investigation is studied in depth as predefined objectives.

The tools which are used during a field survey include secondary informations including maps and other data, field observation, data generated by interviewing people through questionnaires.

An investigator has to decide whether the survey will be conducted in the form of census for the entire population or will be based on selected sample. If the study area is not very large but composed of diverse elements than entire population should be surveyed.

A framwork of sample survey including its size and method of studying seclecting is to be decided in relation to objectives of survey variations in population and cost and time constraints.

The questionnaire involves asking previously framed questions to the person to be inter- viewed. Questions should be related to the objectives to get the answer related the problems. It is important to collect the information relevant to the objectives.

Floods.

Objectives : To identify and record areas experiencing reccuring flood conditions and to experience of floods as natural disaster.

Coverage:

Spatial: A field study conducted of a flood prone area of Brahmaputra Valley.

Temporal: The study is based on average condition reflecting responses of heavy rainfall. The problem pertains to flood. Thematically the assessment for agricultural production and crop land use rainfall and vegetation status should be made to understand.

Secondary Information : The maps and the data pertaining to the rainfall, crop production and population should be collected for flood affected areas.

Map: 1: 50000 and large scale topographical maps of the flood affected areas are needed.

Observation: Information about the heavy rainfall and damage of crops. Photographs and sketches of the area can give more information.

Measurement: The map shows the regions of the flood.

Interviewing: We interviewed some people of the affected area and collect the information related to flood, crops, livestock and domestic water supply, etc.

Tabulation : After completing the survey, the information data were tabulated for easy processing and interpretation.

There are five stages of survey process:

(i) Preliminary stage.

(ii) Operational stage.

(iii) Tabulation stage.

(iv) Mapping stage.

(v) Reporting stage.

(i) An outline map of the area to be surveyed is prepared.

(ii) A questionnaire and schedule for collecting the data is prepared.

(iii) Camera for taking photographs of important objects.

(iv) Sampler for collecting samples of soils.

(v) A bag to collect the samples of soils, rocks and other materials.

(vi) Papers giving some information about the area to be surveyed.

Merits of direct personal investigation:

(i) The collected data is original.

(ii) There is highest degree of accuracy.

(iii) Reliablity of data.

(iv) Uniformity in collection of data.

(v) Possibility of encouraging response from the people.

(i) Establish contacts with the people of the area to be surveyed.

(ii) Explain the object of the survey.

(iii) Questions must be related to the survey.

(iv) Questions should be brief and simple.

(v) Do not make false promises to any one.

(vi) Do not hurt any one’s feelings.

(vii) Do not ask questions to a person when he is busy.

There are vast differences in the social, cultural and economic characteristics between different regions of a country as well as different strata of society within a region. These are influenced by the productivity of the land, occupation of the people, services and facilities available to them as well as the capacity of the people to utilize the resources. All these aspects need field work by which we can collect the type of information which is not otherwise available. In addition, it provides an opportunity to observe, to plot on a map and to interview the people about the distribution of various phenomena and to understand the causal relationship among them.

Often the field work is conducted by choosing an appropriate number of samples rather than conducting a total survey which is time consuming. For example, if there are 1,000 fields in a village, we may select about 100 fields for a detailed investigation. In that case, it is called sample survey of land use with 10 percent sampling.

In questionnaire method, a list of questions is prepared in advance-these questions are put before a selected group of people. The questions are arranged in a systematic order with a view to collect information from the informants. The questionnaire always provides space for the information to be collected.

The following are the requisite characteristics of a good questionnaire:

1. questions should be few in number

2. questions should short, clear and unambiguous.

3. questions should relate to the field of enquiry.

4. questions should be easy to understand and to answer.

5. the purpose of questionnaire must be made clear to the informants.

Building, fields and canals.

Droughts and floods.

The setting of a map according to main direction.

Collection of data and tabulation of data.

Water, land, air, plants, animals.

50 to 100 families.

A slum area.

1. By rain water harvesting, 2. By water conservation.

Because of excessive use of ground water.

Industries, transport, use of chemicals in agriculture.

The upper level of ground water.

Tally marks.

Field work involves observing the area personally to collect data.

Notebook, topomaps and camera.