Name: ( ) Class: Date:

Secondary 1 Geographical Investigation

Topic: Singapore’s Tropical Rainforests
Introduction
Tropical rainforests are a type of natural vegetation found near in the Tropics and in areas that
experience the tropical climate.

In Singapore, rainforests are found in nature reserves and parks such as the Bukit Timah Nature
Reserve, Labrador Park and Bukit Batok Nature Reserve. For developmental purposes, rainforests
have been cleared for industries and housing over the years.

Purpose of Geographical Investigation

Geographical Investigation (GI) allows us:

• Investigate a geographical issue

• Demonstrate learning by completing an end product

However, in order to fully understand the issue, there is a need to gather, analyse and
present data in a systematic manner.

Procedure of Geographical Investigation

A. Pre-fieldwork
1. Analysing the geographical investigation question
i. Formulate / Analyse the hypothesis
ii. Determining types of data required
B. Fieldwork
2. Gathering data
i. Gather data from the field
C. Post-fieldwork
3. Exercising Reasoning
i. Analyse the data construct geographical interpretations
ii. Consolidate group’s findings to form a conclusion
4. Reflect on own learning experience
i. Identifying the strengths, limitations and possible ways of improving the
investigation.
Activity: Let’s get real!
In the following activity, you will be conducting your Geographical Investigation in three phases:

A. Pre-Fieldwork

B. Fieldwork

C. Post-Fieldwork

A. Pre-Fieldwork

Formulation / Analysis of hypothesis

A hypothesis is an educated guess in the form of a statement on how things work. To construct a
hypothesis, the following needs to be noted:

- The hypothesis should be clear in terms of scope and depth that it is intended to cover.
- Variables should be controlled: one independent and one dependent.
- There needs to be an assumed relationship between the two variables, which is to be
proven or tested.
- The variables must be measurable or observable.

Suggested Hypothesis

Tropical rainforests are beneficial for Singapore

B. Fieldwork

In your investigation, you will be collecting primary and secondary data. Both types will
have their own merits and will give you a better understanding of the issue being
investigated.

1. Primary Data
-Data collected first-hand. Information collected via fieldwork (e.g.
photographs, sketches and surveys)
2. Secondary Data
- Data that has been collected and compiled by someone else for other
purposes
- Secondary research is done by reading up on your topic, also known as a
literature review.

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The table below shows the fieldwork activities that have to be conducted during your G.I.

Recording
Time Field Activities
Sheet
1. Field sketching of site A
2. Observation of human activities B
3. Field Photography C
4. Survey D

Field Activity 1: Field Sketching

Field Sketching Tips

Field sketching and field photography are fundamental parts of any fieldwork
investigation. It is simple qualitative technique which, done correctly, will support the
data collected and enhance the whole study.

The essence of all fieldwork is to observe record and interpret what you see around you.
Field sketching helps you look closely at the inter-related elements of an environment to
decide which are more important than others.

1. Identify the focus and purpose of your sketch.

2. Create a title for your sketch.
3. Keeping the purpose in mind, identify relevant details to be included in the sketch.
4. Begin your sketch with the furthest frame (i.e. background) down to the nearest frame
(i.e. foreground)
5. Always label and/or annotate on your sketch. (Know the difference between annotate
and labelling)
6. When drawing your sketch, consider scale by taking note of prominent objects or
features.
7. In your sketch, note the location, direction, date and time. Such information can be
useful for comparison purposes at the same site in the future.

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 Name: ( ) Class: Date:

Field Activity 1: Field Sketching

Draw a field sketch of your group’s field site in the box below. Annotate the characteristic features of the site that may affect the water quality
(e.g. after a water discharge outlet, presence of water purification vegetation, algae cover, evidence of pollution)

Site _____ Date: __________ Time: __________ Air Temperature: _______ Current weather conditions: Clear / Sunny / Cloudy / Overcast /
Light rain Precipitation in the last 24 hours: None / Light / Moderate / Heavy

Title:________________________________________________________
 Recording Sheet B: Observation of
Human activities

Field Activity 2: Observation of human activities

Site

What are the human activities

that you observe at this site? How
would the activities affect the
forest or the natural
environment?

Are there any issues that you

could observe?

Are there any measures to

protect the forests or the natural
environment?

Are there measures (e.g.

presence of netting to trap
rubbish, etc) to ensure that the
quality of water would be able to
support aquatic fishes as well as
meet the needs of humans?

Other interesting observations

that may affect the rainforests or
water

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 Recording Sheet C: Field
Photography

Field Activity 3: Field Photography

Use the space below to record additional information about the photographs you have taken.

Photo 1

Adaptation -

Photo 2

Adaptation -

Photo 3

Adaptation -

Photo 4

Benefits / Problems / Issues

Photo 5

Benefits / Problems / Issues

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 Recording Sheet D: Survey

1. Are you a Singaporean?

Yes No

If No, please state which country you’re from: __________________

2. What is the purpose of your visit today?

 Exploration  Exercise

 Leisure  Education

 Photography  Others: ________

3. How do you think rainforests is able to benefit the environment and Singapore?
Please tick as many as applicable.
 Generating Oxygen
 Contributing to the water cycle
 Food for usage
 Food
 Others (please specify): ______________________________

4. On a scale of 1 to 5, how useful are rainforests to the environment and Singapore?

Circle your answer.

1 2 3 4 5
Of no use at Not useful Neutral Useful Very useful
all

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C. Post Fieldwork – Data Presentation and Analysis

Data collected needs to be analysed, subsequently organised and rearranged to look for
trends, patterns and associations.

Data Presentation

Data needs to be used in a specific way to answer your research question or prove your
hypothesis. You should consider how you want to present your information. Tables might
allow you to show lots of data, however, graphing this information might allow you to
analyse it better, such as displaying it as a pie chart, line graph or scatter graph.

Data Analysis

After presenting your data, consider the following questions to help you use your
information collected.

- What are some major trend(s) / pattern(s) that you have identified about
forests?
- What is the data that you can use to support these major trends / patterns
that you observe?
- Are there any secondary sources / responses from interviews and surveys
that support these trend(s) / pattern(s) that you observe?
- How did the information collected increase your knowledge about the
forests?
- How did the information collected challenge your previous assumption or
prior knowledge about the forests?
- In all, does the information collected support or not support your
hypothesis?

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 Sec 1 Geographical Investigation

Name: _____________________ Class: ______ Date:

____________

INDIVIDUAL POST-FIELDWORK ASSIGNMENT

Presenting Findings & Analysing Data

Hypothesis:

1. Questionnaire

Select and present the 2 most useful sets of data that would help you to test your
hypothesis. You may use any of the formats you have learnt to plot your data,
e.g. Line graph, bar graph, pie chart, scatter graph etc.

Do ensure that you have included the following:

• Title
• Axes (if applicable)
• Accurate plotting
• Legend (if applicable)

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 Sec 1 Geographical Investigation

2. Photo Evidence (Benefits / Issues)

3. Conclusion

Using data collected from survey responses and your observations, state
whether the hypothesis is accepted or rejected.

Give reasons for your answer and state if there are any anomalies.

4. Limitations

What were some constraints that you had to work with?

What could you have done to ensure the accuracy of your results?

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