An investigation into the degree of urban stress in Leiden.

An investigation into the degree of urban stress in Leiden.

Description  Details

Discipline Geography

Assignment type : Essay 

Description

IBDP Geography Internal Assessment Class of 2018

Theme(s): Urban Environments

Research topic: An investigation into the degree of urban stress in Leiden

Research Q?: Does urban stress correlate with socio-economic quality of life in Leiden?

Hypothesis: The least urban stress is found in the most affluent neighbourhoods.

Sample area for investigation in Leiden

The following 10 neighborhoods will be investigated:

Older ‘inner city’ neighbourhoods: De Kooi, Noorderkwatier, Rijndijkbuurt, Burgemeesterswijk,

Stationskwartier

Newer suburban neighbourhoods: Meerenwijkdistrict (Slaaghwijk / Leedewijk (Noord and Zuid) /

Zijlwijk (Noord and Zuid))

What needs to be considered?

1) a) How does this investigation connect with the theme and the locational context?

1. b) What relevant background information is useful to have on each neighbourhood?

2) How can socio-economic quality of life be measured for each neighbourhood?

3) How can urban stress be measured in each neighbourhood?

4) What other variables may have an impact? e.g. age / family status / type of neighbourhood (inner city versus

suburb)

What type of data is needed?

Secondary data is available for background and socio-economic data on each neighbourhood. Starting points

are:

Oozo.nl

Cbs.nl

leiden.straatinfo.nl/buurtgegevens/

hoeveiligismijnwijk.nl/

Primary data must be collected to determine the degree of urban stress, though some secondary data is

available. Ideas to be considered:

Fear of crime / noise or visual pollution / traffic counts or perception of traffic / (lack of) service provision /

a bipolar urban environment analysis based on graffiti / litter / dog mess/ quality of street lighting

Relevant photos / interviews may also support your data.

As a group you will need to decide how to collect the primary data (i.e. questionnaires, sampling type)

How can the data collected be presented and analysed?

Possible techniques for analysis:

 Choropleth mapping / GIS mapping

 Scattergraphs

 Spearman’s rank correlation co-efficient

 Bar graphs / Pie charts

VERY IMPORTANT POINTS:

 REMEMBER THEORETICAL BACKGROUND and LOCATIONAL CONTEXT…

 READ THE INTRODUCTION TO THE INTERNAL ASSESSMENT & ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

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Internal Assessment for IBDP Geography

For the internal assessment component in geography you are required to undertake fieldwork,

collecting primary information, and produce one written report that is based on a fieldwork

question.

The internal assessment requirements at SL and at HL are the same. However the

weightings are 25% at SL and 20% at HL.

You are allowed to undertake preparation and data collection in groups. However, once the

research is completed and the necessary fieldwork information and possible methods of

presentation exchanged, the emphasis must be on individual work. The writing of the report,

the justification of methods, the analysis and the conclusion / evaluation must be entirely the

work of the individual student. These elements are assessed by criteria D–F, worth a maximum

of 15 marks. The quality of presentation is also assessed by criterion G and is worth a

maximum of four marks.

The investigation involves a series of activities including:

• preparation—inc. hypothesis (hypotheses) formulation
• data collection—observing, collecting and recording raw data in the field
• analysis—based on the information collected and the application of scientific logic in testing

hypotheses

• presentation—one individual and structured written report (2,500 words) based on your

fieldwork.

Your work is marked internally by your teacher with a sample moderated externally by the IB.

The fieldwork assignment is to be completed by the 16 February 2018 and consist of the use

of primary and secondary resources.

The fieldwork is assessed against 7 criteria:

Criterion A Fieldwork question and geographic context 3 marks

Criterion B Method(s) of investigation 3 marks

Criterion C Quality and treatment of information collected 5 marks

Criterion D Written analysis 10 marks

Criterion E Conclusion 2 marks

Criterion F Evaluation 3 marks

Criterion G Formal presentation 4 marks

Total 30 marks

I Data Collection

Primary information

This information must come from your own observations and measurements collected in the

field. This “primary information” must form the basis of each investigation. Fieldwork must

provide sufficient information to enable adequate interpretation and analysis.

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Fieldwork investigations may involve the collection of both qualitative and quantitative

primary information. The type of information collected should be determined by the aim and

fieldwork question.

Quantitative information is collected through measurement and may be processed using

statistical and other techniques.

Qualitative information is collected though observation or subjective judgement and does not

involve measurement. Qualitative information may be processed or quantified where

appropriate or it may be presented through images or as text. (You should remember the word

limit when presenting qualitative information as text only.)

The nature of the qualitative data used should provide sufficient information for analysis and

conclusion.

Secondary information

This research involves gathering information from sources that have already been compiled in

written, statistical or mapped forms. Secondary information may supplement primary

information but must only play a small part in the investigation.

All secondary information must be referenced, using the Harvard (MLA) system. This includes

information from the internet, where references should include titles, URL addresses and

dates when sites were visited. All sources of secondary information must be referenced.

Footnotes may be used to reference material and, provided that these are brief, up to 15

words as noted below will not be included in the word count.

II The written report

Written reports

You should produce one written report of your investigation. The report must not exceed

2,500 words.

Word limit

The following are not included in the word count:

• Title page
• Acknowledgments
• Contents page
• Titles and subtitles
• References
• Footnotes—up to a maximum of 15 words each
• Map legends and/or keys
• Labels—of 10 words or less
• Tables—of statistical or numerical data, or categories, classes or group names
• Calculations
• Appendices—containing only raw data and/or calculations

All the main text is included in the word count, including the research question, analysis,

conclusion and evaluation, as well as all annotations over 10 words and any footnotes over 15

words.

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Where work is over the limit, moderators are advised to stop reading and you are likely

to lose marks not only under criterion G, but possibly also under other criteria, such as

E and F.

Emphasis

The emphasis of the written report must be analytical and include focus on the method(s)

employed for information collection, its treatment and analysis. A purely descriptive report

and/or a long theoretical introduction should be avoided.

III Format of the written report

Students are advised to use the following guidelines to format their reports, which will ensure

that the reports fulfill the requirements of the criteria.

Report section Criterion Marks allocated out

of 30

Suggested word limit

within 2,500 words

Fieldwork question and

geographic context

A 3 300

Method(s) of investigation B 3 300

Quality and treatment of

information collected and

written analysis (integrated)

C + D 5 + 10 1350

Conclusion E 2 200

Evaluation F 3 300

Formal requirements G 4 n/a

Total 30 2450

The suggested breakdown of the word limit is offered as guidance and is not prescriptive.

However it is helpful if you add the number of words per section in the main body of the

report and provide the total number of words on the front cover of the report.

A Fieldwork question and geographic context

The fieldwork question (the precise inquiry) guides the fieldwork investigation. It must be

narrowly focused, appropriate and stated as a question that can be answered through the

collection of primary information in the field. (Where appropriate, students can make a brief

preliminary judgement or prediction answering the fieldwork question. This prediction may be

formulated as a hypothesis. A hypothesis is the focus of the investigation around which data

is collected in an attempt to test it and to arrive at sound conclusions. The hypothesis is a

statement of the expected outcome and not a question. For example, the hypothesis “building

age decreases with distance from the central business district (CBD)” requires the collection

of numerical data that can be represented in graphs and maps and to which statistical tests

can be applied. Any hypothesis should be justified. )

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You must also comment briefly on the geographic context, explaining why and where the

fieldwork investigation is to be carried out. This can include relevant spatial, physical,

socio-economic conditions and other background information, concepts or characteristics. A

map of the research area and/or the locations used in the fieldwork investigation is essential

to provide the necessary spatial element.

You must also 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. It can

be drawn from a combination of two or more topics or themes.

The suggested length of this section for work appropriate to criterion A is approximately 300

words.

B Method(s) of investigation

You must describe the method(s) used to collect information. The description may include

sampling techniques, time, location and 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.

C Quality and treatment of information collected and

D Written analysis

You should treat 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. The precise techniques employed will differ depending on the

nature of the fieldwork question but may include statistical tests (including confidence limits),

graphs, diagrams, maps, annotated photographs and images, matrices and field sketches.

In the written analysis, you must demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the fieldwork

investigation by interpreting 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.

You must also refer 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 for the work in the section related to criterion C and criterion D is

1,350 words.

E Conclusion

You should summarize the findings of the fieldwork investigation. There should be a clear,

concise statement answering the fieldwork question. It is acceptable for the conclusion to

state that the findings do not match your preliminary judgement or prediction.

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The suggested length of this section for work appropriate to criterion E is approximately 200

words.

F Evaluation

You should review your investigative methodology, including methods of collecting primary

information. Within this, you should consider any factors that may have affected the validity

of the data, including personal bias and unpredicted external circumstances such as the

weather.

You should suggest specific and plausible ways in which the study might have been improved

and could be extended in the future.

The suggested length of this section for work appropriate to criterion F is approximately 300

words.

G Formal requirements

The fieldwork written report must meet the following five formal requirements of

organization and presentation.

 The work is within the 2,500 word limit.

 Overall presentation is neat and well structured.

 Pages are numbered.

 References used for background information follow standard conventions (i.e. MLA /

Harvard)

 All illustrative material is numbered, is fully integrated into the body of the report and

is not relegated to an appendix.

IV General advice

 Maps

It is strongly recommended that maps are “student-generated”, either by being hand drawn or

computer-derived, and they must be made relevant to the study. Maps that are downloaded or

photocopied should be adapted to your own information and this may be achieved effectively

by overlays. Normal map conventions must be followed (e.g. title, key, scale…)

 Appendices

A very limited use of appendices is acceptable and, if appendices are used, these should

contain only examples of materials that have been used or are representative of the material

used, such as a data sheet or a translation of a questionnaire. It should not include all

materials used, for example, every survey or questionnaire completed. Further, it should not

include secondary information.

 Referencing

Body Text

Use parentheses (brackets) to make an in-text citation. Give the author’s last name, if it is

not part of the text, and the relevant page number.

e.g. (Waugh p.25)

A full reference should appear in the references section at the end of the report.

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Footnotes

Footnotes provide related information that does not belong in the text. There should be as

few of these as possible and they should be identified with a superscript number 1 and placed

at the bottom of the same page. They are included in the word count.

References / Works cited

A list of references / works cited used should appear at the end of the report. Follow the

instruction received for the extended essay.

List sources alphabetically by the last names of authors or editors. If there is no author or

editor, list sources by titles and put them in order by date.

 What are the most common problems with the written report?

The hypothesis or hypotheses is/are not justified.

There is too much secondary data.

There is insufficient raw data.

Methods of data collection such as the time and location of the survey and sampling method

are not justified.

Maps have no scale, title, orientation and key.

Interpretation and discussion fail to refer back to the hypothesis or hypotheses.

There is too much description instead of analysis.

 Using Questionnaires

Questionnaires form the basis of many surveys in human geography. When conducting

questionnaires, it is essential that you carry out a sufficient number of interviews to yield a

representative sample and reduce sampling error. For example, a supermarket survey of only

30 respondents would be unreliable and interviews with only a few business owners would need

to be supported by a substantial quantity of additional primary data. It is recommended that

at least 100 questionnaires are completed.

Questionnaires should be designed to yield objective data for mapping and quantification.

Even the more open-ended type of questions (for example, “what is your opinion of…”) can be

designed to give quantifiable answers, such as scores of one to five, depending on levels of

agreement by the interviewee. Questionnaires that concentrate only on sociological issues

such as gender and age should be avoided.

The value of a questionnaire is dependant on three factors:

1. What type of question is asked?

Open questions (for example, “What do you think of this shopping area?”) allow an infinite

variety of responses but are almost impossible to analyse quantitatively. They should be used

only to gain an impression.

Closed questions offer a selection of specific answers (for example, “Yes/No” or “How would

you rank this shopping area on a scale of one to five in terms of accessibility?”). Answers can,

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therefore, be quantified, which allows for easier analysis. Note, however, that all the

questions may not be equally important and it may be necessary to weight some of the

answers.

2. Who is asked the question?

Not everyone can always be questioned, and so a sample can be selected using a process known

as sampling.

• Random sampling—random tables are used to choose those to be questioned.
• Stratified sampling—a representative sample is selected for questioning based, for example,

on age or income.

• Systematic sampling—those to be questioned are selected by regular intervals (for example,

every tenth person entering the shop) or at evenly distributed points/locations (for example,

the north-west corner of each block).

3. What factors could influence the answers?

The value of data collected by a questionnaire can be affected if there are discrepancies in

how the questions were asked, or if external conditions change (time of day, weather, and so

on).

The following example is a questionnaire designed for use by students in their local area with

some corresponding annotations made by the teacher on the function of the various questions.

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1. Internal Assessment criteria for Geography

A Fieldwork question and geographic context

This criterion assesses the focus and geographic context of the fieldwork and whether the fieldwork question

is related to the material in the syllabus.

Marks Level descriptor

0 The work does not reach the standard described by the descriptors below.

1 The fieldwork question is inappropriate, or the geographic context or locational map or relationship

to the syllabus is missing.

2 The fieldwork question is adequate with an acceptable attempt made to place it in its geographic

context and relate it to the syllabus. A locational map is presented.

3 The fieldwork question is well focused with a detailed, accurate explanation of the geographic

context and is related to the syllabus. A good locational map is presented.

B Method(s)of investigation

This criterion assesses the description, justification and appropriateness of the method(s) used to investigate

the fieldwork question.

Marks Level descriptor

0 The work does not reach the standard described by the descriptors below.

1 There is only a brief description of the method(s) used for information collection, and the method(s)

are generally inappropriate for the investigation of the fieldwork question.

2 There is an adequate description but limited justification of the method(s) used for information

collection. The method(s) used are generally appropriate for the investigation of the fieldwork

question.

3 There is a clear description and justification of the method(s) used for information collection. The

method(s) used are well suited to the investigation of the fieldwork question.

C Quality and treatment of information collected

This criterion assesses the quality of information collected and its suitability for analysis in criterion D, and

whether appropriate techniques have been used for both the treatment and display of information.

Marks Level descriptor

0 The work does not reach the standard described by the descriptors below.

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1 Limited or inappropriate information has been collected and very little attempt has been made to

treat or display the information collected.

2 Some relevant information has been collected and some attempt has been made to treat or display

the information collected.

3 The information collected is generally relevant to the fieldwork question and allows for some

analysis. Limited techniques have been used for both the treatment and display of information

collected.

4 The information collected is generally relevant to the fieldwork question and is sufficient in quantity

and quality to allow for analysis. Appropriate techniques have been used for both the treatment and

display of information collected.

5 The information collected is directly relevant to the fieldwork question and is sufficient in quantity

and quality to allow for in-depth analysis. The most appropriate techniques have been used

effectively for both the treatment and display of information collected.

D Written analysis

This criterion assesses the quality of the analysis of the results, referring to the fieldwork question, geographic

context, information collected and illustrative material.

Marks Level descriptor

0 The work does not reach the standard described by the descriptors below.

1–2 The report reveals very limited knowledge and understanding. The approach is descriptive with little

or no attempt at analysis.

3–4 The report reveals some knowledge and understanding. There is an attempt at analysis, which may

be incomplete or superficial, making little or no reference to the fieldwork question, geographic

context, information collected and illustrative material.

5–6 The report reveals an adequate level of knowledge and understanding. There is an adequate level

of analysis, which generally refers to the fieldwork question, geographic context, information

collected and illustrative material.

7–8 The report reveals a good level of knowledge and understanding. There is a well-reasoned, detailed

analysis of the results with references to the fieldwork question, geographic context, information

collected and illustrative material. There is an attempt to explain any anomalies in results.

9–10 The report reveals a very good level of knowledge and understanding. There is a clear and

well-reasoned, detailed analysis of the results with strong references to the fieldwork question,

geographic context, information collected and illustrative material. The attempt to explain any

anomalies in results is good.

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E Conclusion

This criterion assesses the ability of the student to summarize the findings of the fieldwork investigation.

Marks Level descriptor

0 The work does not reach the standard described by the descriptors below.

1 There is some attempt to draw a conclusion to the fieldwork question, which may not be completely

consistent with the analysis.

2 There is a clear conclusion to the fieldwork question, consistent with the analysis.

F Evaluation

This criterion assesses the student’s ability to review the investigative methodology.

Marks Level descriptor

0 The work does not reach the standard described by the descriptors below.

1 There is either some attempt to evaluate methods of collecting fieldwork information or some

suggestion is made for improvement or extension.

2 Methods of collecting fieldwork information have been evaluated or there are valid

recommendations for improvements or extensions.

3 Methods of collecting fieldwork information have been evaluated clearly. There are valid and

realistic recommendations for improvements or extensions. There may be some suggestions for

modifying the fieldwork question.

G Formal requirements

This criterion assesses the extent to which the student meets the five formal requirements of writing,

organizing and presenting the written report.

 The work is within the 2,500 word limit.

 Overall presentation is neat 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.

Marks Level descriptor

0 The work exceeds the 2,500 word limit or meets none of the other formal requirements.

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1 The work is within the 2,500 word limit and meets one of the other formal requirements.

2 The work is within the 2,500 word limit and meets two of the other formal requirements.

3 The work is within the 2,500 word limit and meets three of the other formal requirements.

4 The work is within the 2,500 word limit and meets the other four formal requirements.

Format MLA

Academic Level: –

Volume of 1700 – 2500 pages (8 pages)

Type of service: Custom writing