geographical skills

contour lines

- lines of equal height
- heights within the lines
- metres above sea level
- close together = steep slope
- further apart = gentle slope

spot heights

- points on the map with a dot and a number
- represents height in metres above sea level
- not always the highest point

layer shading

- darker colours represent higher ground then white as mountain peaks
- measured in metres above sea level

bar graph

- each bar is the same width
- equally spread
ADVANTAGES:
- visual impact
- simple to draw
DISADVANTAGES:
- requires further explanation

histograms

- Each class, or category, is not equally sized, which is typical in a histogram question. This is called unequal class intervals.
- To draw a histogram for this information, first find the class width of each category.
- The area of the bar represents the frequency, so to find the height of the bar, divide frequency by the class width. This is called frequency density.
- ADVANTAGES:
- Easily to compare the data
- work well with large ranges of information
DISADVANTAGES:
-only can be used with continuous data

compound line graph

- shows multiple sets of data on one graph
- can be used with continuous or discrete data

pie chart

- type of graph in which a circle is divided into sectors that each represent a proportion of the whole
- ADVANTAGES:
-easy to interpret
-helpful for visual representation
-good for discrete data
-DISADVANTAGES:
-less that 3 sectors looks simplistic
-actual data isn't shown
-time consuming

how to draw a pie chart

- divide by total and then multiply by 360

climate graph

- A climate graphs show the average rainfall and temperature in a specific location in months throughout the year​

proportional symbols

- Used to show proportions on maps
- ADVANTAGES:
-easy to compare
-easy to find patterns
-DISADVANTAGES:
-can't pick out accurate data
-if patterns overlap you won't be able to see data

population pyramid

- form of histogram
- portrays info on age and sex data for a group of people

scatter graphs

- Scatter graphs are used to investigate the relationship between two variables ​
- The pattern of the scatter describes the relationship.​
- Best-fit or trend lines should...​
Follow the trend of the data​
Join as many points as possible​
Leave an equal number of unconnected points on either side.
- ADVANTAGES:
-visually appealing
-can see a correlation
-DISADVANTAGES:
-best fit line can give inconclusive results

pictograms

- shows proportions in sets of data when accuracy isn't that important - discrete data
-ADVANTAGES:
-visual impact
-DISADVANTAGES:
- difficult to draw by hand
- can't pick out accurate data

Chloropleth Map

- map which uses differences in shading or colouring to indicate the average values of a particular quantity in those areas
-ADVANTAGES:
-can identify trends
-presents large data sets
-DISADVANTAGES:
-variation within areas are hidden
-suggests an abrupt change at boundaries

rose diagram

- like a directional bar graph. length increases in direction that data came from
- ADVANTAGES:
-show multiple data sets
-show value & direction
-DISADVANTAGES:
-hard to draw
-only works for certain sets for data

radar graph

- researchers tend to use radial graphs not only to allow them to present 5 or more sets of data one diagram at once
-ADVANTAGES:
-Visual
-lots of data can be put on 1 graph
-DISADVANTAGES:
-hard to spot anomalies

field sketch

- a rough drawing that is annotated
-ADVANTAGES:
- exaggerate features
-DISADVANTAGES:
- can be inaccurate

photograph

- ADVANTAGES:
- very accurate
- quick
- DISADVANTAGES:
-can't exaggerate features

upper quartile range

3(n+1) / 4th value

lower quartile range

(n+1) / 4th value

interquartile range

upper quartile - lower quartile

percentage change

- work out the difference between 1st and 2nd values (the increase or decrease as a raw value)
- divide that number by the 1st value
- multiply by 100

bias

- to feel or show inclination or prejudice for or against someone or something
- reasons:
- payment
- personal beliefs
- personal relationships

GIS

- a system that captures, stores, analyses, manages and displays geographical information USING LAYERS