: FIELD WORK

- Fieldwork is the scientific study of geography using the environment as a

laboratory/source of information.
Types of fieldwork -kcse 2014
i) Field study/Field Teaching
-It involves individuals or a group of people who go out to the field with an aim of collecting
information or data in order to achieve specific objectives.
ii) Field excursion/Field trip/Field Tour/Field Visit.
-This involves individuals go for a sight-seeing or visit some areas for pleasure and relaxation.
iii) Field research
-It is a problem-solving approach conducted by experts in their respective fields of
specialization.
-The researcher identifies the problem, causes and their solutions.
Importance of fieldwork –kcse 2014 pp2/ 2017pp1/2022pp1
❖ It allows for easy recall.
❖ It enables one to get first-hand information.
❖ It helps learners understand better theoretical concepts taught in class/teaching becomes
easier.
❖ It helps students develop skills of data collection.
❖ It enables collection of samples for future reference.
❖ It makes learning interesting.
❖ It makes learning real/meaningful.
QUIZS: 2014- Give three advantages of studying floods through fieldwork.

: 2017- Give reasons why it is important to study soils through fieldwork.

: 2022- State advantages of studying landslides through fieldwork.

Procedure used in fieldwork

i) Identification of the topic of study.
ii) Identification of the area of study.
iii) Formulation of objectives.
iv) Formulation of the hypotheses.
v) Preparation for the fieldwork.
vi) Conducting the actual field study.
 vii) Follow up activities of the field study.
1. Identification of the topic of study/theme
 This is the title of the field study that is to be carried out. It is also the geographical
problem investigated.
 A research topic should be short and researchable.
 Examples include:
 A study of rocks
 A study of weather station
 A study of tea farming
 A study on sugar factory

2. Identification of the area of study

 Choose the area of study carefully to ensure a success in the field study.
 Proper selection of the area of study helps the researcher to achieve his or her objectives.
 Examples include:
 A study of rocks around the school.
 A study of Dagoretti weather station
 A study of tea farming in Nyeri.
 A study of Mumias sugar factory.

3. Formulation of objectives -kcse 2020 pp1

 These refers to the aims or purpose of the field study.
 A good objective should be SMART i.e. Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and
Time bound.
 Objectives should always begin with, “to find out, to identify, to investigate or to
establish’’
 For example, if the topic of study is “A study of Dagoretti weather station’’
the objectives maybe:
 To find out the elements of weather observed and measured in a weather station.
 To identify the factors considered while siting a weather station.
 To establish the instruments found in a weather station.
 To find out the importance of keeping instruments in a Stevenson screen.

4. Formulation of the hypotheses.

 It is an anticipated idea, a guess or a suggestion about the problem to be researched.
 It is a possible idea about a possible result to the problem in question.
Types of hypotheses –kcse 2014 pp2
i) Alternative or substantive hypothesis- It is positively stated e.g. All
rocks are volcanic.
ii) Null hypothesis- It is negatively stated e.g. Not all rocks are volcanic
rocks.
iii) Question form hypothesis.
 5. Preparation for the fieldwork –kcse 2017pp1/2019pp2
 Seeking permission from relevant authorities.
 Conducting a pre-visit or reconnaissance.
 Reading from reference books.
 Conducting discussion in class.
 Consult geography teacher.
 Assembling necessary tools.
 Preparing a route map.
 Formulating objectives and hypothesis.
 Preparing a questionnaire.
 Drawing a work schedule.
 Dividing students into groups.

a) Reasons for seeking permission from relevant authorities -kcse

2013/2019pp1/2022pp1
 It is an official requirement.
 For aadministration to arrange for transport, lunch, meals, upkeep and entry fee.
 For administration to provide essential tools for use.
 For the authorities to arrange for a tour guide to take them around.
 For the principal to alert other teachers on the disruption of the routine.
 To be allowed by the principal to be away from the school.
 To be permitted to enter the facility/area of study.

b) A pre-visit/reconnaissance.
 This entails visiting the area of study in advance before the actual field study day.
Reasons for conducting a reconnaissance/Pre-visit -kcse 2006/2012pp1
❖ It helps to identify probable problems/how to solve problems.
❖ To assess the suitability of the study area.
❖ It helps to design a working schedule.
❖ It helps to draw up objectives/hypothesis for the study.
❖ It helps to estimate the cost of the study.
❖ It helps to identify appropriate equipment /tools to be carried.
❖ It helps to identify suitable data collection methods.
❖ It helps to prepare a route map.
 c) Tools/Items to be carried during fieldwork -kcse 2007/2017pp1
 Notebook and pen for writing short notes.
 Camera for taking photographs.
 Geological map for tracing areas of related study.
 Geological hammer for breaking rock samples.
 Jembe/hoe for digging to get soil samples -kcse 2019
 Magnifying lens for viewing specimen.
 Polythene bags for carrying rock samples -kcse 2019
 Route map for showing/locating the area of study.
 Spades for scooping soil to expose rock samples.
 Tape recorder for recording interviews/discussion.
 Tape measure/rulers for measuring.
 Pencils for drawing sketch maps.

d) Reasons why route maps are required during fieldwork -kcse 2010/2013/2021pp1
 To help identify the direction to be followed.
 To help in preparing a working schedule.
 To help in locating features for the study.
 To help estimate distance to be covered.
 To guide in estimating time for the field study.
 To help to estimate the cost of the study.

e) Why map of the area is needed during fieldwork -kcse 2009pp1

 To show the extent/delimit the area of study.
 To show the route to be followed during the study.
 To show the location of features during the study.
 To be able to estimate distances.
 To show the general nature of the terrain.

f) Drawing a work schedule

 It is an organized order of events to be followed on the day of field study.
 It indicates specific time for each activity.

Time Activity

7:30 am-7:59am Assembling necessary equipment

8:00 am Departure for the area of study

8:50 am Arriving at the area of study and

 reporting to forest authorities

9:00 am-12:29 Data collection

12:30 pm-1:59 pm Re-grouping for lunch and taking lunch

2:00 pm-3:29pm Continuing with data collection

3:30 pm Reporting back to the forest authorities

3.35 pm Departure from the area of study
4:25 pm Report back to school

NOTE: According to M.O.E, 8:00am bus is allowed to leave the school and 6:00pm bus must be
back in school.
Importance of a work schedule during fieldwork -kcse 2014 pp1/ 2020 pp1
i. It helps in carrying out the field activities systematically.
ii. It helps in estimating the total time required for the study.
iii. It ensures all areas of study are adequately covered.
iv. It helps in assessing progress of the study.
v. It enables for proper use of available time.
vi. It confines one to the scope of the study.
g) Advantages of dividing the class into groups -kcse 2006pp1/2022pp2
 It facilitates more interactions among the group members.
 It saves on time.
 It enables field study to be carried out in an orderly way.
 It encourages participation of all members of the class.
 To collect wide variety of data, in case of a large area of study.
 It enables students to study the entire area.

h) Secondary sources of information you are likely to use before the actual fieldwork –
kcse 2007/2013pp1/2022pp2
 Geography notes
 Internet/electronic media
 Journals/magazines
 Maps
  Newspapers
 Photographs/video tapes
 Professionals/botanists/forest officers
 Relevant text books

6. The Actual Field study.

 This refers to conducting the exercise in the field involving data collection and recording.
 The methods involved in the collection of data depends on the nature of the field as well
as the type of data to be collected.

Methods of data collection during fieldwork –kcse 2011/ 2015/ 2018pp1/

2021pp1
 Observing
 Interviewing
 Administering questionnaires
 Sampling
 Note making
 Photographing/video recording/filming
 Counting/Census taking
 Reading secondary sources/content analysis
 Taking measurements
 Reading instruments/thermometers

Methods of recording during fieldwork data –kcse 2018pp1/2019pp1

 Note taking.
 Photographing.
 Field sketching/drawing diagrams.
 Filling in questionnaire
 Tape recording.
 Video recording/filming.
 Labelling of samples.

Activities done during field study -kcse 2012/2017pp1

N/B: These are methods of data collection and recording. They include;
 Asking/answering questions/interviewing.
 Collecting samples
 Counting.
 Digging/breaking rocks
 Drawing sketches/transects
 Estimating heights
  Labelling samples
 Measuring distances
 Note taking/Note making
 Observing the rocks/features
 Taking photographs

7. Follow up activities of the field study -kcse 2010/2014pp1/2018pp1

 Follow up activities are the activities done after the fieldwork. They mainly involves
analysis and presentation of data.
 They include;
❖ Asking/answering question.
❖ Assessing the information collected against the hypothesis.
❖ Consulting geography teachers.
❖ Data analysis/Data presentation.
❖ Discussion about findings/discussing the findings.
❖ Displaying of photographs taken/items collected.
❖ Drawing conclusions.
❖ Drawing diagrams
❖ Reading more on the topic.
❖ Report writing.
❖ Sketching the features.
Usefulness of information obtained from the field to the local community –kcse
2012/2015pp1
 It would be used to plan for precaution/safety.
 It would be used in the conservation of land/wildlife/soil/water.
 It would be used as a basis for further research.
 It would be used for planning agricultural activities.
 It would help in the rationalization of land use.
  It would be used for future reference.
 It would be used to determine economic uses of plants/herbal medicine.
 It would be used to identify new resources existing in their areas.
 It would help to identify alternative uses of the resources existing in their areas.
 It would help the local to identify new routes.

Problems likely to be encountered during fieldwork –kcse 2013/ 2017pp2/ 2018pp1

 Accidents /injuries may occur.
 Possible attack by wild animals like snake/Insects.
 Difficulty in breaking some features like rocks
 Difficulty in identifying some features/rocks
 Fatigue due to difficult terrain.
 Sudden/heavy rain making students to seek a shelter.
 Scorching sun making students to seek a shelter.
 Getting lost/loss of direction
 Inaccessibility of some areas/thick/thorny vegetation/rugged terrain
 Inadequate time for data collection
 Uncooperative/unwilling/absent respondents

How to identify different types of plants during fieldwork.

❖ Their appearance
❖ Their color
❖ Their leaf size/pattern/types
❖ Their age
❖ The texture of the leaves
❖ The system of leaves
❖ Their flowers
❖ Their root system
❖ By observing them
Types of data likely to be collected during a field work in a weather station –kcse 2011
❖ Diagrams/photographs on weather instruments
❖ Information on operations of weather measuring/recording instruments
❖ Information on weather forecasting
❖ Statistical data on previous weather records
❖ Types of weather recording/measuring instruments

“END OF TOPIC SIX”