What is a geographical enquiry?

For those of you starting geography A-level this year, the independent investigation is an integral part of the assessment. This is the first in a series of Geographical Skills columns designed to help with this part of your course. In this first column David Holmes gives some guidance about the nature of geographical enquiry and what it will involve for you. In the next issue he looks at AS fieldwork

Figure 1 Components of geographical enquiry relevant to A-level geography

The independent investigation is based around an individual report of between 3,000 and 4,000 words. It has the same form and framework for all exam boards, all that differs is mark allocation in particular sections.

You are required to define a question or issue relating in some way to the geography content included in the A-level specification. You then have to work through a series of linked stages which are often called the ‘route to enquiry’, ‘fieldwork process’ or ‘investigative enquiry’.