Geography 4A Skills

Aim: Method to show continuous data

Advantage:

- Can easily show trend over time

- Can be used to predict future trends

- Can be used to compare data

- Can be used to estimate for points we don't have data for

Disadvantages

- Scale must be done carefully, and can distort results, making comparison misleading

- Can only be used with continuous data

Can be used to show multiple pieces of information, and generally needs two vertical/horizontal axis - climate graph

Can go into positive and negative values - either size of axis - temperature variation

Represents the number within a set of data, like a category. Can be used to compare different data sets of categories within a data set

Advantages:

- Visually strong - easy to use

- Allows easy comparison

- Easy to draw

- Shows trends better than tables

Disadvantages:

- Can be reorganised to emphasis certain things - may impact conclusion

- Only uses discrete data (data that can only take certain values)

- Only shows patterns

Bars can go either side of the axis - population pyramid

Shows two sets of data plotted against each other - shows a relationship between two variables. The line of best fit represents the direction and nature of the correlation

Advantages:

- Lots of data can be plotted into a small space

- Patterns can be identified quickly and evenly

- Retains exact data values

- Anomalies easily seen

- Shows what type of relationship exists

Disadvantages:

- Data needs to be continuous

- Can only compare two sets of data

- Mistakes easily made with large data sets

- Line of best fit can show misleading relationship

- Doesn't show how strong the relationship is - relies on Spearman's Rank

Displays data components of a whole data set, shown as segments and percentage values

Advantages:

- Good visual representation

- Shows percentage total for each category

- Can be easy to compare

- Can be used effectively on a base map

Disadvantages:

- Too many categories make them hard to interpret

- Too few make them too simplistic

- No exact numerical data

- Use only with discrete data

A graph with three axis. Figures of each data set must be percentages

Advantages:

- Useful in showing patterns of clustering between three variables

Can plot many data points

Disadvantages:

- Very limited use - have to be three data sets

- Does not have a spatial element - can't be placed on a graph

Radial Diagrams     

Plot data in a circular fashion around a central point

Advantages:

- Specific technique and effective way of presenting data on wind direction frequency

- Polar graphs - effective at showing change over time

Disadvantages:

- Can only be used on limited types of data - change over time or direction

- Polar graphs distort higher values, making it slightly harder to interpret

Allows you to see the spread of data. Can be used to compare data if the same scale is used

Advantages:

- Useful visual representation of dispersion in data

- Can compare different data sets

Disadvantages

- Time consuming to plot more than one data set

- Does not give a numerical value of dispersion

Specialised version of a line graph - the scale increases in multiples of ten

Advantages:

- Good way of displaying a large range of data

- Shows the rate of change in data

Disadvantages:

- Zero cannot be plotted

- Negative and positive values can't be on the same graph

- Very easy to make mistakes on a large graph

Good at displaying change in percentage over a distance

Advantages:

- Visual representation of plant coverage at various stages - width of kite represents the amount

- Allows easy comparison between multiple kite diagrams

Disadvantages:

- Very specific and works with a limited data range

- Can be easily affected by anomalies

Use of technology to gain data - photographs, digital satellite images

Advantages:

- Can remind you of an area when you leave

- Good overview of satellite images

Disadvantages:

- Can crop out things accidentally

- Photo can be overcrowded

Using things like a census as secondary data

Advantages:

- Large amount of data available in various resources

Disadvantages

- Time consuming to find data needed

- Need to be clear about the data you're trying to find, or you'll get vague results

- Census data is gathered every 10 years - large gaps

Integrates hardware, software and data in a presentable fashion good for analysis

Advantages:

- Allows recognition of patterns

- Can access data regarding these patterns - maps can hold data

Disadvantages

- Technology required is very expensive - digital cameras and satellites and software

- Time consuming to input data

To calculate lower quartile (when n is the number of values)

(n + 1)/4

To calculate the upper quartile

((n + 1)/4) x 3

To get interquartile range, subtract the upper from the lower

Advantages:

- Gives a mathematical figure to show dispersion

- Simple to calculate

- Not affected by anomalies

Disadvantages:

- Works alongside median - not the best at finding central tendency of a data set

Calculates a figure that shows the extent that the data is clustered around the mean - a larger figure means a wider spread around the mean, and less reliable.

Once calculated, add the value to the mean and also subtract it from the mean to find the two values that 68.2% of results sit between. The smaller the range, the better

Common technique for measuring correlation strength. The ideal data set is more than 10 and less than 30 pairs of data

Advantages:

- Shows the strength of a relationship

- Can test its statistical significance (how likely the result you got is random (lower chance is better))

Disadvantages:

- Illogical variables can still show a correlation

- Not reliable with less than 10 values

- Hard to do with more than 30

- Does not imply a casual relationship - a change in one WILL result in a change in the other

Examines what you expect to find in your study and what you actually find, and also tests the significance of the results

Advantages:

- Can be applied to large data sets

- States whether the difference is statistically significant

- Easy to interpret and use the figure

Disadvantages

- Data must be displayed as frequencies, not percentages

- Does not tell you the nature of the difference between expected data and observed data, just that there is one

- Must have a fairly large data set

Assesses the possibility of the difference between the two sets of data being as a result of chance or fluke. The data is assumed to not be normally distributed and can be ranked. There must be fewer than 20, and more than 5 samples 

Advantages:

- States whether the difference is the result of chance

- Can be used for smaller data sets than Chi-Squared

- Easy to interpret and use

Disadvantages:

- Not good with large sets

- Does not tell you nature of difference, just that there is one

- Must have a small-ish data set

Use a system of colours/shades to show patterns on a map that may be otherwise hidden in numerical data

Advantages:

- Can show a clear pattern that may not be clear with just numbers

Disadvantages

- Does not show regional variation

-Assumes there is an abrupt change at boundary lines, when it's probably gradual

- Too large a class interval means a lot of places will be the same shade, even if values aren't too similar

A dot is placed for each feature on a map of relevance e.g arable farms in the South of England. Can be used with a scale

Advantages:

- Can show exact location of feature

- Can easily show patterns and clusters

Disadvantages

- Dots don't show exact values

- Can very easily become overcrowded

- Scale of map is important

Isolines are lines that represent the same value along their whole length, like contour lines or isobars

Advantages:

- Shows a clear pattern

- Actual values can be identified

Disadvantages

- Anomalies can affect map and have to be removed, meaning it isn't a direct reflection

- Can become overcrowded if overly detailed

Lines that show the quickest path from origin to destination (as the crow flies). Thickness is proportional to how many people/things travel from origin to destination

Advantages:

- Show a clear pattern

- Can determine approximate values

Disadvantages:

- Hard to ensure exact values

- Does not show the actual path travelled

Used to show the actual flow and direction of something. The lines are proportional to the number traveling along the route

Advantages:

- Can calculate exact values

- Can use percentages

- Shows direction and volume

Disadvantages:

- Need at least a local scale map - can't be done on a large scale

Similar to desire lines, except there is no thickness as the amount of people that travel from origin to destination is not presented

Advantages:

- Shows a clear pattern

- Easier to draw as lines don't need scale

Disadvantages:

- No exact values

- Doesn't say how many times journey is taken

Can be used as a base map or on its own. Shows how the land is being used, and the presence of human or physical features

Maps with proportional symbols   

Base maps with symbols added that proportionally represent values at the location they are linked to

Advantages:

- Allows comparison of areas

- Allows recognition of patterns

Disadvantages:

- Can become too cluttered easily

- Too little information can make it less useful

Maps drawn quickly but carefully at the location

Advantages:

- Can be used to get a general idea of the area when leaving it

- Can be used as a base map

Disadvantages:

- Can be misleading if not drawn correctly

Very detailed diagrams of central area land use

Advantages:

- Gives a good, accurate presentation of land use in a central area

Disadvantages:

- Elements can be vague, like labels

- Can get out of date very quickly