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examBoard: Cambridge
examType: IGCSE
lessonTitle: Bi-polar Surveys and Questionnaires
Bi-polar surveys and questionnaires are essential tools for geographers conducting fieldwork. They allow us to collect data about people's opinions, perceptions and attitudes towards places, environments and geographical issues in a structured way.
Key Definitions:
Bi-polar surveys use opposing statements with a numerical scale in between. For example:
"Buildings are attractive" (5) --- (4) --- (3) --- (2) --- (1) "Buildings are unattractive"
The surveyor rates each location or feature on this scale, providing a quantitative measure of qualitative judgements.
Questionnaires can include various question types:
They're useful for gathering opinions from local residents, visitors, or stakeholders about geographical issues.
A well-designed bi-polar survey is crucial for collecting reliable and valid data. Here's how to create one:
Clearly identify what you want to measure. For example, if studying urban environments, you might want to assess building quality, traffic levels and green space.
Develop opposing pairs of statements that represent positive and negative aspects of what you're measuring. Make sure they're clear and unambiguous.
Decide on a numerical scale (typically 1-5 or 1-7). Ensure all team members understand how to apply the scale consistently.
Here's what a typical bi-polar survey form for assessing environmental quality might look like:
| Positive Statement (5) | Rating Scale | Negative Statement (1) |
|---|---|---|
| Buildings are well-maintained | 5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1 | Buildings are in poor condition |
| Streets are clean | 5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1 | Streets are littered |
| Traffic flow is light | 5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1 | Traffic congestion is heavy |
| Plenty of green spaces | 5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1 | Lack of green spaces |
| Low noise levels | 5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1 | High noise levels |
When conducting your bi-polar survey in the field, follow these guidelines for reliable data collection:
Choose appropriate sampling methods:
Your choice depends on your research question and the area you're studying.
Effective ways to record your data:
Always include location details, date, time and weather conditions.
After collecting your data, you'll need to present and analyse it effectively:
Students in Birmingham conducted a bi-polar survey to compare environmental quality in the city centre, suburbs and urban fringe. They used 10 criteria including building quality, green space, traffic levels and noise pollution.
They surveyed 5 locations in each zone using a 1-5 scale. The results showed that the urban fringe scored highest (average 4.2/5), followed by suburbs (3.4/5), with the city centre scoring lowest (2.3/5). The biggest differences were in green space availability and noise levels.
They presented their findings using radar diagrams for each zone and a choropleth map showing the overall environmental quality across the city.
When analysing your data, consider these approaches:
To ensure your bi-polar survey produces reliable and useful data:
In your iGCSE Geography exam, you might be asked to:
Always link your answer to specific geographical investigations and show understanding of both the practical application and the limitations of the method.
Bi-polar surveys are valuable tools for geographical fieldwork, allowing you to collect quantitative data about environmental quality and perceptions of place. By carefully designing your survey, collecting data systematically and analysing the results thoughtfully, you can gain valuable insights into spatial patterns and variations in geographical features.
Remember that bi-polar surveys work best when combined with other fieldwork methods to provide a more complete understanding of geographical phenomena. The numerical data they provide can be effectively presented using visual methods like radar diagrams and maps, making patterns clear and supporting your geographical analysis.
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