Internal+Assessment+-+Class+of+2017

How to Write a Geography Research Hypothesis

Definition
A hypothesis is simply defined as an educated guess. It is the investigator’s prediction or explanation of relationships between two or more variables. It states what the researcher thinks the outcome of the study will be. In other words, it is the researcher’s expectation of what results will be obtained.

How to State Your Hypothesis
In your introduction, you can introduce your hypothesis based on observation of data (not necessarily measuring it). In this introduction, the hypothesis must be justified, and it can be either a null hypothesis or an alternative hypothesis. The null hypothesis is always the negative, i.e. "Osu, Accra, Ghana is not a globalised town." When the hypothesis is stated in the introduction, it can be stated as either a null hypothesis or an alternative hypothesis but not both.

Applying the hypothesis to the investigation
It is important to pay attention to the hypothesis stated. Firstly, the data collected must take into consideration the variables stated in the hypothesis. By so doing, the analysis of the results can tell whether the hypothesis should be accepted or rejected. This is normally done qualitatively. The hypothesis must therefore be tested quantitatively to give an accurate and complete picture of the data analysis.

Statistical Tools
The statistical tools employed for testing a hypothesis include:
 * Chi-Squared Test
 * Spearman’s Rank Correlation
 * Pearson’s Product Moment
 * Regression

Testing your hypothesis
The original fieldwork question can be limited into specific variables in your hypothesis, which can tested individually to justify, accept or reject your hypothesis. This way your investigation can eliminate testing variables that are not relevant to the hypothesis and the investigation. Each variable must be tested quantitatievly, to add to the qualitative justification you will have given in your introduction.

Conclusion
Make a statement about your hypothesis stating whether it was accepted or rejected, which variable indicate this, and the statistical evidence that justifies this conclusion. The conclusion must be brief. Thusly, in the case only the releveant data needs to be referenced as justification of your acceptance or rejection of your hypothesis.

Methodology
In your write up of your Geography IA, you will have to include a description of your methodology to meet Criterion B. This will include sample design, methods of data collection, questionnaire design and data presentation.

Your sample design takes into account two factors: There are two main types of sampling:
 * Sample Design**
 * Sample Size – The Number of respondents
 * Sample frame - The total population of the people who have the potential to be selected
 * Probability sampling: each member of the population has an equal chance of being selected. Examples of probability sampling include:
 * Simple Random Sampling
 * Stratified Sampling
 * Systematic Sampling
 * Cluster Sampling
 * Non-Probability
 * Quota
 * Purposive
 * Snowball
 * Convenience

Sources of data: There are two types of questionnaires you can use
 * Methods of data collection**
 * Primary sources:
 * Questionnaires
 * Interviews
 * Personal observations
 * Focus group discussions
 * Secondary sources
 * Textbooks
 * Internet sources such as websites and databases
 * Videos and Television shows
 * Print and electronic publications
 * Questionnaires
 * Questionnaires**
 * Structured or Close-Ended
 * Un-Structured, or open ended questionnaires

Unstructured questionnaires allow answers and responses to fall within a range of options, or in an essay format. Before designing a structures survey, you must first collect reconnaissance data in a pilot survey to familiarise yourself with the area. This pilot survey should be open ended in order to collect the range of data responses you can expect to get. It is important to keep in mind the rationale behind any of the choices made in any aspect of the investigation. This means that it is equally important to record all of the circumstances involved in the investigation that may influence the data collected: time of day, weather, contingency plans, unforeseen mishaps that affect the survey or investigation.

Once data is collected, it is best to present it in a way that is engaging and easy to understand to support your analysis. This can be achieved with the use of charts and graphs. Useful software that may aid in analysing your tabulated data is SPSS – Statistical Package for Social Sciences.
 * Data Presentation**

__**The standard requirements for the Internal Assessment**__


 * Criterion A - Fieldwork question and geographic context (3 marks)**
 * State the __fieldwork question__
 * state your __hypothesis__ here and __justify__ it
 * comment briefly on the //geographic context,// explaining //why// and where the fieldwork investigation is to be carried out.
 * include relevant __spatial, physical, socio-economic condition__s and other background information, __concepts__ or characteristics.
 * Draw a __map__ of the research area and/or the locations used in the fieldwork investigation to provide the necessary spatial element.
 * State the __area(s) of the syllabus__ to which the study relates, whether it is from the topic or development columns within the core, the optional themes or HL extension.
 * The suggested length of this section for work appropriate to criterion A is approximately 300 words.


 * Criterion B - Method(s) of investigation** **(3 marks)**
 * describe the __method(s)__ used to collect information.
 * take about the use of primary and secondary source of information
 * talk about the __sampling techniques__
 * state the __date and time__ the data was collected and provide __justification__
 * state the __specific location__ the data was collect
 * describe the __circumstances of information collection__ where relevant
 * The __method(s) used must be justified__ and must enable a sufficient quality and quantity of primary data to be produced to allow the fieldwork question to be investigated.
 * The suggested length of this section for work appropriate to criterion B is approximately 300 words.

The suggested length for the work in the section related to criterion C and criterion D is 1,350 words
 * Criterion C and D - Quality and treatment of information collected and Written analysis**
 * t reat and display the information collected using the most __appropriate techniques__. These techniques must be the most effective way of representing the type of information collected and must be well used. These may include statistical tests (including confidence limits), graphs, diagrams, maps, annotated photographs and images, matrices and field sketches.
 * In the written analysis, students must d__emonstrate their knowledge and understanding of the fieldwork__ investigation by i__nterpreting and explaining__ the information they have collected in relation to the fieldwork question. This includes __recognizing any trends and spatial patterns__ found in the information collected.
 * Where appropriate, an attempt should be made to __identify and explain any anomalies__.
 * Students must also r__efer to the geographic context, information collected__ and the ways in which the material has been treated and presented.
 * The treatment and display of material and the written analysis must be integrated within this section.

The suggested length of this section for work appropriate to criterion E is approximately 200 words.
 * Criterion E - Conclusion (2 marks) **
 * summarize the findings of the fieldwork investigation. It must be a __clear, concise statement a__nswering the fieldwork question.
 * It is acceptable for the conclusion to state that the findings do not match the student’s preliminary judgment or prediction.

The suggested length of this section for work appropriate to criterion F is approximately 300 words.
 * Criterion F - Evaluation (3 marks) **
 * rev__iew their investigative methodology__, including methods of collecting primary information.
 * Within this, they should consider a__ny factors that may have affected the validity of the data,__including personal bias and unpredicted external circumstances such as the weather.
 * suggest s__pecific and plausible ways in which the study might have been improved__ and could be extended in the future.

The fieldwork written report must meet the following five formal requirements of organization and presentation.
 * Criterion G - Formal requirements (4 marks) **
 * The work is within th__e 2,500__ word limit.
 * Overall presentation is n__eat and well structured.__
 * Pages are __numbered__.
 * __References__ used for background information follow standard conventions. (Guidance on referencing is given in the earlier section on secondary information.)
 * All illustrative material is numbered, is fully integrated into the body of the report and is not relegated to an appendix.

Find attached the criteria for the IA and some samples.
 * [|Details]
 * [[file:yambilla/IA_criteria.pdf|Download]]
 * 47 KB
 * [|Details]
 * [[file:yambilla/Geography IA_Asare.pdf|Download]]
 * 1 MB
 * [|Details]
 * [[file:yambilla/Geog IA_ Kyei Manu.pdf|Download]]
 * 2 MB

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