• A good fieldwork topic should be geographical and

descriptive. The statement of the topic should be

geographical indicating what is to be studied and
where i.e. what the fieldwork study is about and
where it is going to be carried out.
• Statements of the objectives should be specific,
clear and related to the topic of study. Acceptable
objectives need to be measurable i.e. their
statements should include phrases like to locate, to
investigate, to find out, to compare etc.
Phrases such as to understand, to know, to study, to
experience, to learn etc. are not acceptable
because they are not measurable.
 Definition of Fieldwork
This is the practical aspect of
Geography where students go out
of the classroom to study
geographical features.
 Reasons for Carrying out Fieldwork
• To expose oneself to a variety of
environments and socio-economic
conditions so as to broaden one's
experience.
• To provide an opportunity for relaxation
from routine classroom teaching.
 Reasons for Carrying out Fieldwork
• To expose oneself to a variety of skills
such as observation, measurement,
sketching etc .
• To provide an opportunity for linking
classroom knowledge with real-life
scenarios.
 Problems/Limitations of Fieldwork
f) Tall trees or obstacles like tall buildings may
obstruct observation.
g) Noise in the field may disrupt interviewing during
field work.
h)Some people or respondents in the field are
uncooperative i.e. may refuse to give information.
i) Lack of adequate equipment or tools e.g. Survey
maps, Cameras, Weather instruments etc.
j) The school administration or community leaders
may sometimes not allow field work on the grounds
that is time consuming and tends to interfere with
the school programme.
 Methods of Gathering Information in
the Field
1. Observation:- Involves the use of the eye to
see geographical features in the field.
2. Interviewing:- Involves asking questions
about what is being studied especially about
what cannot be observed easily.
3. Recording:- Involves taking a permanent
record of what is being studied e.g. making
notes, Photography, video recording etc.
 Methods {continued)
4. Filling in Sketches:- Involves filling in
incomplete diagrams of features or
incomplete maps (base maps) when one is
already in the field.
 Stages of Fieldwork
There are three stages of field work which
include the following:-
1. Preparation stage
2. Fieldwork proper stage
3. Follow up stage
 Preparation Stage
This is the stage before going out into the field. In
this stage one makes preparation for the field study
such as the following:
• Conducting a pilot study
• Formulating the topic and objectives of study.
• Designing the methods to use.
• Selecting the equipment to use
• Seeking permission from the school authority and
from where you could wish to visit.
• Making other preparations such as organizing
transport, eats and drinks, protective gear etc.
 Fieldwork Stage
This is the stage when one is in the field
gathering information using the various
methods and techniques such as asking
questions, observing, sketching, taking
notes etc.
 Follow up Stage
This is the stage when one is back from
the field. In the follow up stage one
analyses the raw information collected
and writes a report after interpreting the
information. In the report, one also
polishes the sketch diagrams drawn.
 Fieldwork Equipment
The following tools or equipment may be used
when collecting information in the field:
Stationery
Measuring Tape.
 Image Recorders
Camera Camcorder
 Out-door gear
Umbrellas Boots
 Fieldwork Study Topics and
Objectives
Any geographical fieldwork study must
have a topic and objectives. Therefore
there is need for one to formulate an
appropriate or suitable field work topic
and good objectives before going out into
the field.
 EXAMPLE
Topic:
A study of the challenges faced
by the Horizon Gardening Club and
their possible remedies , Horizon
international School, Jinja District.
 Objectives
1. To find out the historical background of Horizon
Gardening Club.
2. To identify the main participants of the Horizon
Gardening Club.
3. To find out the types of crops planted on the
Horizon Garden.
4. To draw a sketch map of the Horizon Garden.
5. To find out the problems facing the Horizon
Gardening Club and how they are being solved.
6. To discover the future plans of the Horizon
Gardening Club.