Data Analysis (OCR GCSE Geography B)

Revision Note

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Jacque Cartwright

Written by: Jacque Cartwright

Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett

Analysis

  • Once data has been collected and presented it needs to be analysed

  • Analysis is the process which makes sense of the data collected

    • It identifies patterns, trends, significance, connections and/or meaning in the data 

  • Analysis involves a number of stages

    • Describe the data shown in the graphs/photographs/maps

    • Identification of the highest and lowest results

    • Identification of any patterns and trends

    • Identification of any relationships between data

  • Methods of analysis depend upon the data collected

  • Quantitative data is analysed using numerical and statistical methods

Analysing photographs and field sketches

  • Annotation of photographs and field sketches is part of the analysis 

  • The use of photographs and field sketches is a qualitative analysis

  • Analysis in annotation gives meaning to the features shown in the photograph/field sketch

Example of an annotated photograph

10-1-2-annotated-photograph

Statistical Methods

Numerical and statistical skills

  • Statistical methods can be used to help explore and explain the results gathered during data collection

Mean, median and mode

  • These are measures of central tendency

  • The mean is calculated by adding up all of the values in the data set and then dividing by the total number of values in the data set

  • The median is the middle value of a set of data. The numbers are arranged in rank order and then the middle value selected

  • The mode is the value which occurs most frequently in a set of data

Range 

  • A measure of dispersion: the spread of data around the average

  • The range is the distance between the highest and lowest value

  • Interquartile range is the part of the range that covers the middle 50% of the data

Anomalies

  • These are results which do not fit the pattern or trend

  • They need to be described and explained

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Jacque Cartwright

Author: Jacque Cartwright

Expertise: Geography Content Creator

Jacque graduated from the Open University with a BSc in Environmental Science and Geography before doing her PGCE with the University of St David’s, Swansea. Teaching is her passion and has taught across a wide range of specifications – GCSE/IGCSE and IB but particularly loves teaching the A-level Geography. For the past 5 years Jacque has been teaching online for international schools, and she knows what is needed to get the top scores on those pesky geography exams.

Bridgette Barrett

Author: Bridgette Barrett

Expertise: Geography Lead

After graduating with a degree in Geography, Bridgette completed a PGCE over 25 years ago. She later gained an MA Learning, Technology and Education from the University of Nottingham focussing on online learning. At a time when the study of geography has never been more important, Bridgette is passionate about creating content which supports students in achieving their potential in geography and builds their confidence.