Year 11 · Geography · Geographical skills
The geographical inquiry process
Learners plan and conduct a geographical inquiry: framing questions, collecting and evaluating data, analysing patterns and communicating evidence-based conclusions.
Awaiting educator review. This material was drafted by our content team with AI assistance and is waiting for review by a qualified educator. Please check it suits your child before using it. Created 10 October 2026.
Learning goals
Learners will
- Describe the stages of a geographical inquiry.
- Design an inquiry question and a data collection plan.
- Evaluate the reliability of primary and secondary data.
Success looks like
- I can write a focused, researchable inquiry question.
- I can choose appropriate primary and secondary data sources.
- I can identify limitations in my data and methods.
- I can draw conclusions supported by evidence.
The big idea
Geographical inquiry generally moves through stages: acquiring (asking questions and planning), collecting and recording data, processing and analysing, communicating findings and reflecting and responding.
A good inquiry question is specific, researchable and geographical, meaning it is about place, space, environment, interconnection, scale, sustainability or change. 'How does pedestrian traffic vary with distance from the train station in [suburb]?' is stronger than 'What is my suburb like?'
A hypothesis turns a question into a testable statement, such as 'Pedestrian counts decrease with distance from the station.'
Primary data might include pedestrian counts, land-use mapping, environmental quality surveys, photographs, interviews and questionnaires. Secondary data includes census data, satellite images, climate records and government reports.
Sampling must be planned. Random, systematic and stratified sampling each have strengths. Small or biased samples weaken conclusions.
Analysis looks for patterns, trends and anomalies using maps, graphs and simple statistics. Conclusions should answer the question, refer to evidence and acknowledge limitations. Ethical fieldwork respects privacy, safety, property and the cultural protocols of First Nations communities whose Country is being studied.
Worked examples
Improving an inquiry question
Improve: 'Is the beach eroding?'
- Make it specific in place and time: name the beach and period.
- Make it measurable: refer to beach width or dune position.
- Make it explanatory: include a possible cause.
Answer: 'How has the beach width at [beach] changed between 2015 and 2025, and what role have storm events played?'
Choosing a sampling method
You want to measure litter along a 1 km creek. How could you sample systematically?
- Divide the creek into equal intervals, e.g. every 100 m.
- At each point, survey a 10 m × 2 m quadrat along the bank.
- This gives 10 or 11 evenly spaced sample sites.
Answer: Systematic sampling at regular 100 m intervals using fixed-size quadrats.
Practice check
Have a go, then check your answers. Each answer comes with an explanation.
Answer guide for parents
Which is an example of primary data?
A pedestrian count you conducted — Primary data is collected first-hand.
Which is the strongest inquiry question?
How does land use change with distance from the CBD of [city]? — It is specific, measurable and geographical.
What is a hypothesis?
A testable prediction — A hypothesis is tested by evidence.
Sampling at regular intervals along a line is called…
systematic sampling — Systematic sampling uses regular intervals.
Why should conclusions acknowledge limitations?
To show the reliability and scope of the findings honestly — Acknowledging limitations is part of rigorous inquiry.
Data collected by others, such as census data, is called ____ data.
secondary — Secondary data is collected by others.
Selecting a subset of sites or people to represent a population is called ____.
sampling — Sampling makes data collection manageable.
Pedestrian counts at 5 sites were 40, 35, 30, 20 and 15. What is the mean?
28 — (40 + 35 + 30 + 20 + 15) ÷ 5 = 140 ÷ 5 = 28.
Watch out for
- More data is not always better data; well-planned sampling matters more than volume.
- Correlation is not causation; a pattern between two variables does not prove one causes the other.
Tips for parents
- Check your state or territory course for required fieldwork and report formats.
- Supervise fieldwork for safety, and avoid collecting personal information from members of the public without appropriate consent.
- If fieldwork takes place on land with cultural significance, contact the local land council or Traditional Owner organisation about appropriate protocols.
Go further
- Conduct a mini-inquiry on a local issue such as traffic, litter or green space and write a 1,000-word report.
- Compare your primary data with census data for the same area.
- Present your findings as an annotated map.