Possible Answers

(a) (i) Topic should clearly be stated showing what was studied and where the study took place. The topic should be related to either fish-landing site or market.

(ii) The objectives should be measurable, relevant, specific and achievable. They should be related to the topic of study. Phrases like to know, to appreciate, to understand, to comprehend should not be used because they are not measurable and cannot be achieved. Acceptable phrases are: to find out, to discover, to suggest, to identify, to establish among others.

(b) The sketch maps drawn should have the following qualities: Title, frame, direction and key / label.

(i) The physical features should include: Relief, drainage and natural vegetation.

(ii) Man-made features include; roads, factories, planted forests, dams, market, farms or plantations, landing sites, leisure parts etc.

(c) The effect of the human activities on the environment in the area studied should be both positive and negative effects. For example, for the landing site, the following can be noted:

Positive effects:

• Development of roads
• Growth of ports / towns / urban centres
• Development of processing industries
• Development of social infrastructures
• Improvement of the quality of life due to creation of employment opportunities etc

Negative effects:

• Destruction of vegetation / deforestation leading to decline in water quality and water table.
• Poor sanitation
• Pollution
• Depletion of fish species
• Rapid population growth leading to population pressure / congestion
• Easy spread of diseases
• Soil erosion
• Seasonal migration of people

For the market:

(a) Positive effects

• Development of roads / water transport
• Development of towns / urban centres
• Development of commercial / agricultural sector
• Improvement of quality due to creation of employment opportunities.

The negative the effects are the same as those of a landing site.

(b) Problems faced when conducting the fieldwork:

Problems should be related to the topic and geographical in nature.

• Inaccessibility due to wetland / steep slopes
• Language barriers
• Bias responses from respondents
• Poor visibility due to bad weather
• Noise
• Hostility from respondents
• False information given by dishonest respondents
• General lack of co-operation from the respondents etc.

POSSIBLE ANSWERS

(a) (i) The topic of study should be clearly stated, specific and researchable indicating what was studied and where the study took place.

(ii) The objectives of study should be specific, measurable and achievable within the given time of the course and should be related to the topic.

(b) Possible methods used include:-

- Observation

- Interview

- Recording /sketching

- Questionnaire

- Sampling

- Measurement

- Map orientation etc

To describe any three methods used, the following is expected:

§ Define the method used

§ Explain / describe how the method was used in data collection

§ Give results / information obtained by using that particular method for example sampling is the study of a small fraction of a given population to represent a bigger area / aspect / phenomena.

§ How - by random picking or sample collection of specimen of soils, fish, crops etc.

§ Information obtained is given by evidence of names of the items sampled. The information obtained can then be used to represent broader aspects e.g. characteristics of soil, forest cover, animal species etc.

Measurements

This is to establish or estimate the distances, volumes, quantities, heights, sizes, areas by calibrated and non calibrated instruments like tape measures, metre ruler, weighing scales, jerrycans, tins, jars, ropes, stick and others.

How - take any one instrument used and describe how you used it to measure e.g. powering water in a measuring cylinder and read the results.

The measurements recorded are later used by the researcher to analyse the data.

Questionnaire

This is a designed instrument used to receive relevant information or responses from the respondent in writing.

How - Relevant questions, geographical in nature were formulated for the respondent to answer. After the questions have been answered, the document can be send back to or collected by the fieldworker.

Sample questions formulated, evidence of who answered the question and the respondents to the questions should be clearly given in the answer.

Interviewing:

This involves the use of question and answer with the interviewer coming into direct contact with the respondent(s). Samples of questions asked, evidence of who was interviewed and the information obtained should be clearly given etc.

(c) Problems faced using the methods in (b) above

• Sample which are not representative of a bigger population
• Bias from the interviewed respondents
• Problem of language
• Incorrect information given by the respondent in the interview / questionnaire
• Poor visibility due to bad weather
• Inaccessibility due to thick forests, steep, slopes, rock outcrops etc.

Problems should be tied to the method and the information missed because of the problem faced should be given as evidence.

(d) Follow-up activities include:

• Organization of data collected
• Analysing of data collected
• Interpreting data collected
• Comparing present and past geographical information
• Compiling of results / drawing sketch map / diagrams
• Drawing up of conclusions and recommendations
• Final writing of Report
• Dissemination of results to relevant stakeholders etc.

Possible Answers

(a) (i) The topic of study should be clearly stated showing what was studied and where the study took place. The topic should be specific researchable.

(ii) The objectives should be measurable, relevant, specific and achievable.

Objectives should be related to the topic.

(b) The preparations made before conducting fieldwork

• Pilot study / pre-fieldwork to the area of study
• Choice of what to / theme / topic
• Formulation of objectives
• Development of methods to be used
• Collection of instruments / tools
• Dividing the participants into groups etc.
• Obtaining permission from relevant authorities.

(c) The sketch map drawn should have the following qualities: title, frame, direction and key / label.

(i) The physical features should include: Relief, drainage and natural vegetation.

(ii) Man-made features include: roads, factories, planted forests, dams, market, farming or plantation, landing jetty leisure park.

(d) Clearly bring out the relationship between relief e.g. Hills, slopes, valley, scarps, and mountains, and human activities e.g. Agriculture, settlement, communication, forestry, fishing, mining / quarrying.

The relief features should be varied and examples given. For example:

- Roads have been constructed in valleys

- Cultivation of crops takes place on gentle slopes

- Forests are on steep slopes.

Relationships should be well explained and examples given.