GCSE GEOGRAPHY PAPER 3 HUMAN FIELDWORK

What was the enquiry question for the human fieldwork

What impact has the ‘Birmingham big city plan’ had on the CBD?

What theory was the human fieldwork based on

The Concentric Zone Model (Burgess Model), which suggests that urban areas are organized in concentric rings with clear socio-economic differences.

What data collection method was used in the human fieldwork

A questionnaire was used to gather public opinions on the regeneration of the Birmingham CBD.

What other data collection method was used in the human fieldwork

A land use map was used to analyze the distribution of different land uses across the CBD.

What were the findings of the questionnaire in the human fieldwork

87% of participants believed that regeneration had been successful in improving the Birmingham CBD.

What areas were identified as successful in regeneration

The Library area scored the best in all surveys, with good social interaction, a unique identity, and excellent public spaces.

What areas were identified as needing improvement

Brindley Place scored the lowest for regeneration due to visible signs of decay such as graffiti and structural damage.

What were some negative aspects identified in the regeneration

The Mailbox area, while successful in social interaction, was difficult to access without a car and was considered disconnected from the local community due to high-end shops catering to outsiders.

What did the environmental quality surveys show

Grand Central scored the lowest in terms of environmental quality, with issues such as traffic congestion and noise pollution.

How did Gentrification affect the CBD

Gentrification was evident with the conversion of former warehouses into luxury apartments, such as in Brindley Place.

What land use zones were identified in the CBD

Chain stores and offices occupied the majority of the land (about 80%), with very little vacant or derelict land. Commercial land use was predominant around Mailbox and Grand Central, while office space was common around Brindley Place.

What did the land use map show about the CBD

The map showed that land use in the CBD was primarily commercial and office-based, with very few vacant spaces.

The spatial variation in land use highlighted different zones of activity.

What weaknesses were identified in the data collection

1) The sample size for the questionnaire was small (only 10 people per site) and might not be fully representative of the entire population.

2) The weather could also influence people's perceptions of environmental quality.

What improvements could be made to the investigation

1) The sample size could be increased to include more people from different demographics, and stratified sampling could be used to ensure a more representative sample.

2) Visiting more sites would also give a more comprehensive understanding of the regeneration's impact.

What issues were encountered during the fieldwork

1)Some people were unwilling to complete the questionnaire, and the small sample size could lead to unrepresentative results.

2) the weather conditions might have affected people's responses to the environmental quality surveys.

What would you do differently next time

1)Increase the sample size and use stratified sampling to ensure a more accurate representation.

2)Conduct the survey over multiple days or weeks to avoid bias due to time constraints.

Why is this location suitable for our human fieldwork enquiry?

1) Large areas of Birmingham city centre are pedestrianised with limited public transport which makes easy and safe access

2) It was possible to walk between all 4 sites as group away from busy roads

1) Traffic accidents- use designated crossing and plan routes through pedestrianised areas

2) Antisocial behaviour-keep in a group, only question members of public in pairs