Unit 4A GEO4A - Geography Fieldwork Investigation (7037)
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AQA
This is my A* (57/60) A-Level Geography Coursework, with the topic 'Contrasting the quality of life in a suburb, to an outer city council estate of South Liverpool'
The Coursework includes graphs, diagrams and pictures, with lots of high level geographical terminology used. And is approximately ...
Unit 4A GEO4A - Geography Fieldwork Investigation (7037)
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A* (57/60) - For Reference Use Only!
A-Level Geography
Unit 3 - NEA
‘Contrasting the quality of life in a suburb
(Woolton) to an outer city council estate
(Belle Vale) of South Liverpool’
, Contents Page
Section Title
1 Introduction and Context
2 Collection of Data
3 Presentation of data
and analysis
4 Conclusion and
Evaluation
,Section 1
Introduction
&
Context
,Executive Summary
Quality of life differs from standard of living, as it refers to the wealth of an area as well as
other qualities such as crime rate, local environment, local life expectancy and other
socio-economic factors. Quality of life can differ significantly between different places, in
some cases, living less than a mile away can statistically add 6 years to your life
expectancy.
Through this project I will be carrying out an in-depth investigation about the
dissimilarities in quality of life between Woolton and Belle Vale (two suburbs of Liverpool).
I will be collecting and utilising both primary and secondary data in the form of land use,
environment, crime rates and house prices in order to help demonstrate how the quality of
life changes between the two wards, despite being geographically adjacent.
Hypothesis
‘Woolton provides its residents with a much different quality of life than
Belle Vale does, due to a variety of factors’
My investigation is going to test the validity of this statement. It suggests that suburban
areas like Woolton can give their residents a different quality of life compared to outer city
council estates like Belle Vale. I'm going to test this theory by using both primary and
secondary data to compare the wards’ socio-economic qualities such as environment,
crime rate, land use and other people's perspective of the ward.
, Sub Questions
Will the type of land use differ between the two wards?
This links back to my hypothesis, as land use can give a strong indication of the standard
of living of the local population. It will link to my environment sub-question as I compare
recreational open spaces in both areas using secondary data sources such as google maps.
I will also carry out primary research in the form of a land use survey.
Will the house prices vary across the two wards?
This links back to my hypothesis, as house prices can give a very strong indication of the
quality of life of an area. Areas with a better quality of life will have a higher demand to
live in, higher demand means higher market values of properties. I will carry out secondary
research on websites such as Rightmove to compare house data from the two areas and
analyse any patterns or differences I find.
How does the environment alter between the two wards?
This links back to my hypothesis, as having an appealing local environment has been
scientifically proven to impact massively on someone's quality of life. I will carry out
primary research questionnaires which will give me a score out of 100 based on numerous
factors which influence the environment including litter, graffiti and greenery. This can give
me inside information about what local residents think about their environment, and also
what opinions outsiders have. I will also use secondary sources such as google maps, to
work out percentages of greenery and other environmental factors.
Does the crime rate change between the two wards, and why?
This links back to my hypothesis, as the crime rate tends to be higher in areas with a
poorer quality of life. I will be comparing crime data gathered from secondary sources such
as Liverpool Ward Profiles and streetchecker.com. This will give me a better understanding
of what type of crimes happen in each area and the impact this has had on people's
quality of life.
To what extent has the COVID 19 pandemic impacted the quality of life between
the two wards?
This links to my hypothesis, as it will help me understand how major events will impact
the quality of life of the residents, and if one place was impacted more severely. I will
carry out surveys to residents of the two wards, and analyse the extent that people have
suffered in the different wards. I will also try to draw a conclusion on the extent that their
location in particular has affected this.
Are people satisfied living in Belle Vale and Woolton?
This links back to my hypothesis, as it will give me an understanding of how locals actually
feel about their location, and their opinion of their own quality of life. I will collect this
data using a questionnaire that will ask residents of the two wards about their opinion of
the wards, as well as nearby outsiders to help eliminate insider bias. I will also be able to
compare this data to my other data to see if it links in and further proves my hypothesis.
, Glossary of key terms
Quality of life - Quality of life is a highly subjective measure of happiness that is an essential
component of many financial decisions. Factors that play a role in the quality of life vary according to
personal preferences, but they often include financial security, job satisfaction, family life, health,
and safety - (https://www.investopedia.com/terms/q/quality-of-life.asp)
In the context of my investigation I will be studying how the quality of life varies in my two study
areas. My own take on quality of life is how attractive an area is to live in considering a number of
factors including crime rate, the environment and land use.
Suburb - A suburb is a place on the outer edge of a city - (AQA Geography Revision guide)
Both the wards I am studying are suburbs of South Liverpool. My investigation aims to see how
quality of life can change significantly between two geographically near places.
Outer City Council Estate - An outer city council estate is a building complex located on the edge
of a city, containing a number of council houses and other amenities like schools and shops. -
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Council_house#:~:text=A%20council%20estate%20is%20a,amenities%20like%20schools%20and%20sho
ps.&text=There%20were%20local%20design%20variations,to%20local%20authority%20building%20standards)
Belle Vale is an example of an outer city council estate. It will be interesting to see how this feature
will alter its quality of life, as I’d expect to see features such as a low amount of greenery, and dense
housing.
Insider Perspective - An insider perspective is a viewpoint from an individual within a place, who
lives there or has a close experience with this place. Insider views tend to be positive, and accurate
as these people have lots of information about the place.
- (https://www.coolgeography.co.uk/advanced/Insider_Outsider_Perspectives_Place.php)
Outsider Perspective - An outsider perspective is a viewpoint from an individual about a place
where they have little or no experience. Outsider views tend to be manipulated by external forces
such as the news and stereotypes.
- (https://www.coolgeography.co.uk/advanced/Insider_Outsider_Perspectives_Place.php)
Insider and outsider opinions will alter the validity of my investigation. During my investigation I will
need to account for this, and will try to use neutral sources as much as possible.
Social and economic indicators - These are measures that help indicate how good the quality of
life is in a particular region or place. For example, social indicators include: Health, Education and
Life Expectancy. And economic indicators include: Average Wage, Employment Rate and Homeless
Percentage. - (https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zbswxnb/revision/3)
All 6 of my sub questions were based on social and economic indicators. In my opinion, social and
economic indicators are all factors which make up someone’s quality of life.
, Link to specification
3.2.2.1 The nature and importance of places
● The concept of place and the importance of place in human life and experience
● Endogenous: location, topography, physical geography, land use, built environment and
infrastructure, demographic and economic characteristics
These points were gathered from the official A-Level specification. The points above link in with how
places can impact someone's quality of life and link in greatly with my investigation. I will factor in
the endogenous and exogenous factors, and how they change across the wards and what impact this
has on people's quality of life as a result.
3.2.2.2.1 Relationships and connections
● How the demographic, socio-economic and cultural characteristics of places are shaped by
shifting flows of people, resources, money and investment, and ideas at all scales from local
to global.
● The characteristics and impacts of external forces operating at different scales from local to
global, including either government policies or the decisions of transnational corporations or
the impacts of international or global institutions.
These points link to my investigation, as I am going to compare how cultural characteristics, as well
as the amount of money/investment in the ward impacts on the quality of life of residents. I am
going to investigate the difference in foreign investment, and how this may impact on the quality of
life of individuals.
3.2.2.2.2 Meaning and representation
● How places may be represented in a variety of different forms such as advertising copy, tourist
agency material, local art exhibitions in diverse media (e.g. film, photography, art, story, song
etc) that often give contrasting images to that presented formally or statistically such as
cartography and census data.
● How both past and present processes of development can be seen to influence the social and
economic characteristics of places and so be implicit in present meanings.
These points link to my investigation, as I am going to compare how places are presented by both
the media and public opinion. I am going to use public questionnaires to analyse this. I will also
compare how the different places have been affected by past economic development, as well as the
amount they are receiving today. This could be a prime reason why some places have a better quality
of life than others.
3.2.2.3 Quantitative and qualitative skills
● Students must engage with a range of quantitative and qualitative approaches across the
theme as a whole. Quantitative data, including the use of geospatial data, must be used to
investigate and present place characteristics, particular weight must be given to qualitative
approaches involved in representing place, and to analysing critically the impacts of different
media on place meanings and perceptions. The use of different types of data should allow the
development of critical perspectives on the data categories and approaches.
This point from the specification links to my investigation, as I am going to use quantitative data
sources such as tables and graphs in my investigation, with the aim to analyse what different factors
impact the quality of life. This will make it easier to compare my data with each other.
3.2.3.3 Social and economic issues associated with urbanisation
● Issues associated with economic inequality, social segregation and cultural diversity in
contrasting urban areas
This point from the specification links to the equality between the two wards, which can link to the
difference in house prices, land use and crime rate which all influence a person's quality of life.
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