Techniques for presenting fieldwork and research data – page 1: best suited toquantitative

Line graph

Show relationships between two variables, eg temperature v. altitude.
The independent variable goes on the horizontal/ x axis; the dependent on the vertical or y axis.
Axes should start at zero
Be careful of scales used, to minimise exaggeration

Bar Graph

One axis = numerical value, the other is in categories
Bars are drawn proportional in height to the value they represent
  • Divided bar graphs useful when variable can be divided into parts. Largest division of the bar should go at the bottom, smallest on top.
  • Population pyramids: vertical axis= age groups( 5yr intervals); horizontal axis= actual numbers or %s. Whole graph divided into two, males on left/ females on right
  • Histograms show the frequency distribution of data. Horizontal line = continuous scale, with vertical axis = frequency in which values fall into each class. Each bar must be directly next to the previous one.
  • Frequency polygons are converted histograms (line joining midpoints at top of each bar. If the line is smoothed off its called a frequency curve

Circular graphs

For data that is continuous over time, eg temperature.
The two axes are the radius & circumference of the circle, basically a straight line graph stretched out & bent round into a circle. The circumference normally represents time.

Proportional symbols

These can also be located on a map to help spatial analysis
  • Proportional bars
  • Proportional circles
Logarithmic graphs
Good for representing large ranges of data and for data showing rates of change

Scatter graphs

Used to show relationships between two variables.
Need a lot of data.
Independent variable plotted on x axis, dependent on the y axis

Divided circles : pie graphs

For quantities that can be divided into different parts.
Segments of the circle represent the components.
Circle may be proportional to the total .
Largest segment drawn in first from the vertical.
Triangular graphs
Graphs with three axes!. Each axis is divided into 100.
Need three sets of data eg employment in primary/secondary/ tertiary.
Good when several places plotted on same graph, or different time periods.
Ray / Rose diagrams
= straight lines showing movement of or connection between two places. Several types of ray diagram:
  • Desire lines = movement of things from one place to another
  • Wind rose = rays focusing on the point from which wind directions have been measured. Each ray is proportional to the number of days in the year the wind blows in that direction.
Lorenz curve
Shows the degree of concentration of a variable in an area, using cumulative percentages
Population Pyramids
Can be for people or commodities
Can be totals or % data
Basically two bar charts on their sides/ back to back /

Isoline maps

Lines on a map joining points of equal value. Eg contour lines, isobars. Only useful where there is a lot of data eg pedestrian counts across a CBD & where there is gradual change across an area. May be shaded in using choropleth method

Choropleth maps

Shading map where depth of shade represents highest/ most important value.
Between 4-8 shades only. Can divide up data by:
  1. Systematic ie equal size classes
  2. Rank the data , divide into equal numbers
  3. Rank data then break into natural divisions shown
Disadvantage: boundaries show abrubt changes & variations within areas concealed. The smaller the area unit the better, e.g.‘output’ area for population data

Dot maps

Dots of fixed size given a value representing a variable, eg numbers of people. Useful where you know precise locations of data
Flow line maps
For movements/ flows eg traffic. Thickness of line shows total movement. Arrow can show flow direction
Topological maps
Actual distance & direstion are disregarded, but the relative position of places is retained. Two sorts:
  • Maps of route networks, eg London Underground
  • Maps of areas, where areas are distorted to show proportions of eg people in countries or within a city
Cross sections
Good for transects, and profiles taken eg of rivers, city functional zones
Make sure vertical scale is not exaggerated!
Can divide up rows above to plot other data eg annotations, pH, land use zones etc
Kite Diagrams
For spatial data eg above a cross section.
% data plotted at points, split 50/50 above 0 line.
Excellent once coloured in

Techniques for presenting fieldwork and research data – page 2: best suited to qualitative

Annotated photographs / An effective method of presenting geographical information. Can be used to illustrate and justify choice of equipment, location of sites and site description, geographical processes. Technology such as Microsoft MovieMaker can be used to stitch together a series of photographs into an illustrated (dvd) transect for instance.
Written description / Geographical ‘prose’. Drawing the reader into a photograph, map or other resource can be achieved through a written geographicaldescription of the item.
Highlighting and coding / This can be used as both a way of presenting and analyzing geographical data. It is especially well suited to written data such as leaflets, websites and extended interview transcripts.
‘Storyboard’ / Just as in film-making, a series of pictures or cartoons are used to illustrate a process or set of data. This approach can be easily linked to the start of the analysis process.
Mind-maps / A geographical diagram that can be used to represent ideas, themes or processes. Usually words (or pictures) are arranged around a central theme. Connections between diffent elements of information can also be shown by using arrows for example. Thicker arrows may indicate stronger connections.
Flow diagrams / These can be used as a schematic representation of a process that may have been uncovered / tested during the investigative process. Examples include the development of a seaside resort or a justification the criteria used to look at inequality. Different symbols can also be used.