FORM FOUR - GEOGRAPHY DIRECTORY
SUBJECT MATTER TO COVER
SUBJECT MATTER TO COVER
- Introduction to research
- Concept of research
- Climate and natural regions
- World climatic types and their characteristics
- Natural regions of the world
- Human population
- Concept of population
- Population distribution
- Population change
- Population data
- Population problems
- Population policy
- Settlements
- Concept of settlement
- Growth of settlements
- Environmental issues and management
- Concept of environment
- Importance of environment
- Environmental problems
- Environmental conservation
A:
INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH
CONCEPT
OF RESEARCH
-
Descriptive,
analytical, applied, fundamental (pure), quantitative, qualitative,
conceptual, empirical
-
Research
which deals with description a state that exists presently
-
Use
of facts or existing information and then analyzing them to make
critical evaluations
-
Aims
to find a solution to an immediate problem facing a society or an
organization
- Fundamental
-
Research
which deals with generalizations or formation of theory
- Quantitative
-
Research
which deals with the measurement of quantity or amount in numerical
form
- Qualitative
-
Deals
with the quality of a phenomenon
- Conceptual
-
The
research which deals with abstract ideas or theory, so as to develop
new concepts
- Empirical
-
The
research which relies on experience or observation without regarding
system or theory
- Objectives of Research
-
To
be familiar with a phenomenon, to reveal accurate features of certain
aspects of social life, test or approve hypotheses of casual
relationships between phenomena
- Importance of Research
-
Provides
policy makers with accurate information about the subject matter,
used to provide accurate solutions to social problems, used to direct
social activities, providing reliable information to the data bank,
members of society become well informed about their society
- The benefits and problems of research
- Benefits:
Helps
remove preconceived ideas in the researchers mind, creates a spirit
of investigation, finds accurate solutions to problems, provides
sources for future research, used to improve production
- Problems:
Takes
a lot of time, research may be unsuccessful or useless, research is
often only applicable to intellectuals
- Why conducting field research is important
-
The
method is systematic, objective, specific to a certain problem,
encourages collection of original data
- Problems that can be encountered during field research
-
Transport
problems, climatic problems, language problems, instruments not being
available, diseases, lack of human needs
- Objectives of field research
-
Discovery
of new knowledge, explanation of phenomena, description of a
phenomenon, prediction of new principles or theories, theory
development
- How to conduct field research
-
Identify
the problem, form a hypothesis, collect data, analyze data, data
recording and presentation, testing the hypothesis, generalization
- How to prepare yourself for field research
-
Understand
the problem in well defined terms, know objectives of the research,
awareness of geographical region, know types of data required and how
to obtain them, know the sample of population to be studied, prepare
tools for analysis, prepare a budget/work plan/time schedule
- Important uses of research findings
-
Used
to solve social problems, used by agricultural experts, preparing
teaching materials and methods, improving governance, helps
distribute social services, controlling diseases, to report data to
the population, used by businessmen to develop business
- Sampling Techniques
-
Method
of getting samples from a population; random sampling, systematic
sampling, stratified sampling
- Quantitative Research
-
Based
on the measurements of quantities or amounts of variables of a
phenomenon
- Research
-
Is
the systematic collection of data used to understand a problem or
phenomenon
- Research Tools
-
Methods
of data collection including observation, interviews, questionnaires
- Non-probability sampling (Non-random sampling)
-
The
elements chosen in the sample are not given an equal chance of being
selected. (E.g. Handpicked sampling, snowball sampling, volunteer
sampling)
- Probability Sampling (Random Sampling)
-
States
that each element in the population has an equal chance of being
selected. (E.g. Simple random sampling, systematic sampling,
stratified random sampling, cluster sampling)
- Sampling
-
Is
the process of selecting a small portion of the total population
which will represent the entire population statistically
- Hypothesis
-
Is
a statement of speculation about the outcomes of research. It is the
expected result of research by the researcher before going to the
field to collect data
- Field Research
-
Process
of collection of data in a systematic manner with the aim of solving
a problem
STAGES
OF RESEARCH WORK
- Stages of conducting research
-
Identify
problem, formulate hypothesis, labeling variable, establish a study
design, data collection, analysis of information, report writing,
conclusion
- Research Techniques
-
Observation,
measurement, interview, questionnaires, focus groups
- Observation
-
Use
of eyes to look at phenomena to record what is seen
- Measurement
-
The
way data is obtained by using equipment
- Interview
-
Conduct
a verbal interaction between an interviewer and interviewee
- Questionnaire
-
Prepared
questions to be answered by a respondent set by a researcher
- Focus Group Discussion (FGD)
-
Involves
intensive discussion about a particular issue done in a small group
of people
- Types of Hypothesis
-
Null,
alternative
- Null
-
One
that is stated in negation, can be said to be true or false
- Alternative
-
Indicates
an actual expectation or relationship
- Characteristics of a good hypothesis
-
States
clearly the relationship between the variables, must provide sound
rationale, consistent with commonly accepted notions, must be
testable, must be related to empirical phenomenon, must be consistent
with purpose of research, simple and concise
- Purpose of hypotheses
-
Provides
direction, ensures collection of evidence to answer research problem,
sensitize the investigator to certain aspects of the situation,
enables researcher to access information they have collected from
respondents, permits researcher to understand problem with greater
clarity and use it to find a solution, provides a framework for the
ultimate conclusion of the research
- Research Proposal
-
A
systematic plan which plans what will be needed to accomplish the
main objective of the research
- Functions of a research proposal
-
Guideline
to show how to proceed with a project, shows where the research
should end, shows how the research will be evaluated in the future
- Components of a research proposal
-
Title,
problem and setting, hypothesis, literature review, work plan, budget
chart, references
- Qualities of a good research proposal
- Should
be clearly written, precise, reasonable length, worth time/money
being used
B: CLIMATE AND NATURAL REGIONS
- NATURAL REGIONS OF THE WORLD
-
Trees of tropical rainforests and coniferous forests are evergreen
-
Tropical rain forests consist primarily of hard wood
C: HUMAN POPULATION
CONCEPTS
OF POPULATION
- Age Structure of a Population
-
The
distribution of ages of people in a society
- Birth Rate
-
The
number of live births per year per 1000 people in the population
- Death Rate
-
The
number of deaths per year per 1000 people in the population
- Family Planning
-
Is
the process of improving conditions of the family by ensuring an
appropriate number of children and a proper spacing of time between
one child and another
- Growth Curve
-
The
curve shape produced when the rate of growth of an organism or
population is plotted on a graph
- Infant Mortality Rate
-
Number
of deaths of children below one year old per 1000 people in the
population
- Landlocked Countries
-
Countries
without suitable harbors or access to oceans
- Population
-
Is
the number of people available in a given geographical area
- Rural-Urban Migration
-
Movement
of people, especially young people, from rural areas to towns and
cities
- Urbanization
-
Is
the process of transformation in which a rural area develops into a
town, from trade, modern buildings, population increase
- Factors determining age structure in a population
-
Birth
rate, death rate, infant mortality rate, migration, marriage status
and rates
- Explain the effects of rapid population growth on small scale agriculture
-
Causes
deforestation, desertification, land conflict, food shortage, land
degradation, water pollution, soil pollution
- Effects of overpopulation on human and natural resources in East Africa
-
Not
enough doctors/teachers for the large population, overexploitation of
natural resources like water/land, lower standards of living, poor
housing/social services
- Characteristics of human populations
-
Population
size, population density, population distribution, sex ration, age
distribution, population growth rate, population change
- Factors that influence population distribution
-
Physical
factors like topography/climate/soil/vegetation, pests/diseases,
war/government policies, economic factors like employment/industry
- The aims of introducing family planning
-
To
improve the living standards of the family, control population
pressure, improve health of mothers and children, avoid STDs and
unwanted pregnancy
- The main problems facing family planning in Tanzania
-
Poverty,
ignorance, cultural beliefs, religious beliefs, poor means of
transport and communication to spread the message, lack of education,
poor organization of groups spreading this message, laws such as
allowing girls to marry at 15
- Factors influencing rapid human population growth and distribution
-
Availability
of food supplies, availability of clean/safe water supplies,
pollution-free environment, availability of health services,
availability of social services i.e. schools/markets, availability of
infrastructure, availability of employment
- Factors influencing population changes
-
Migration,
death, birth, governmental policy
D: SETTLEMENTS
CONCEPT
OF SETTLEMENT
- Linear Settlement
-
Is
a pattern of settlement where homes are along a road or railway
system
- Nucleated Settlement
-
Is
a pattern of settlement where homes are situated close to each other
- Scattered Settlement
-
Is
a pattern of settlement where homes are situated far apart
- Migration
-
Is
the movement of people from one region to another
GROWTH
OF SETTLEMENTS
- Settlement patterns are influenced by
-
Physical
Factors: Climate/soil/topography,
biological factors: pests/diseases/vegetation, Political
Factors: War/policies/economics/culture
- Explain the basic factors involved in setting up rural settlements
-
Availability
of land and economic activities, climate, availability of water
sources, vegetation, topography, pests/diseases, safety
- Functions in an urban settlement
-
Administrative
and economic centers, defensive functions, provision of higher
education/health services, production centers, markets,
entertainment, financial services
- Negative impacts of rural-urban migration
-
Depopulation, failure of local economic activities, shortage of food
production, breaking of family ties, environmental pollution in urban
areas, unemployment, inadequate social services, increase in crime in
urban areas as people struggle to survive
- Main factors causing rural to urban migration
-
Absence of employment opportunities, land shortage, poor health
services in rural areas, poor infrastructure, poor educational
services, low income
- Pure Nomadic Pastoralism
-
Pastoralists
have no permanent residence and are in constant movement grazing from
one place to another
- Semi-nomadic Pastoralism
-
Farmers
have permanent residence but during the dry season they travel long
distances to look for pasture and water, have some level of
cultivation to supplement income/food
- The disadvantages of nomadic pastoralism in northern Kenya
-
Contributes
to soil erosion from movement of herds, desertification from eating
vegetation, does not allow farmers to settle, source of conflict
between farmers and nomads over land use, animal diseases spread
easily
- Characteristics of nomadic pastoralism in East Africa
-
Not
confined to a single area, animals are for subsistence purposes, poor
health of animals, causes soil erosion/desertification, conflict
between pastoralists and farmers, requires little capital
- How to improve pastoralism in East Africa
-
Provision
of education to farmers of modern ways of keeping livestock, adopt a
range system to avoid desertification and soil erosion, provide
health services to animals, provide storage facilities to farmers and
livestock producers, improve transportation, have separate land for
farmers and pastoralists
- Factors which cause the different types of internal migration
-
More
developed areas have more job opportunities, low agricultural
productivity, poverty/hunger/underemployment, rapid increase in
population, development of projects, government policies,
war/violence, better social/health services
E: ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND MANAGEMENT
CONCEPT
OF ENVIRONMENT
- Ecosystem
-
Is
a network of living organisms and non-living things interacting with
each other
- Features adopted by plants to survive in hot deserts
-
Long
roots to penetrate to underground water, succulent leaves and stems
for storage of extra water, waxy or needle-like leaves to prevent
loss of water, seeds which are dormant for years until rainfall
occurs
- Cacti
-
Typical
plants of a hot desert area, have long roots, thorny steps, needle
shaped leaves, wax or hair
IMPORTANCE
OF ENVIRONMENT
- Importance of the environment
-
Natural
resources, human health, farming, tourism, beauty, biodiversity
ENVIRONMENTAL
PROBLEMS
- Environmental problems facing Tanzania
-
Environmental
pollution from industry/agriculture/human activities,
desertification, soil erosion, land degradation, deforestation from
economic activities like charcoal production, loss of biodiversity
- Examples of environmental hazards
-
Earthquakes,
floods, bush fires, drought, volcanic eruption, tsunami, pollution,
environmental degradation, desertification, deforestation
- Environmental Degradation
-
The
gradual or rapid decline of the quality of the environment required
for animals or plants to live
- Environmental Hazards
-
Are
toxic materials or incidences which are harmful to humans or other
animals, they can be caused by human activity or by natural
occurrences
- Acid Rain
-
Is
rain which results from the mixture of moisture in the air with
oxides of nitrogen and sulfur forming nitric acid, sulphuric acid,
and carbonic acid
- Effects of acid rain
-
Death
of plants and animals, fills lakes/rivers/dams with acidic water,
reduces quality of soil for agriculture, speeds up the rate of
erosion of rocks, causes corrosion of infrastructure
- Deforestation
-
The
excessive massive cutting down of trees by humans for economic
activity
- Forestry
-
Is
an economic activity which deals with the production of wood products
and cutting of forests
ENVIRONMENTAL
CONSERVATION
- Measures taken to solve environmental problems in Tanzania
-
Environmental
education in schools/colleges/universities, reforestation, protection
of national forests, laws, restriction of harmful chemicals,
restrictions on hunting
- Ways to avoid environmental degradation in Central Tanzania
-
Afforestation
and reafforestation, destocking, proper farming methods, alternative
sources of fuel (non charcoal), encourage irrigation, diversify
economic activities, increase education
- Explain soil conservation measures in Kondoa District
-
Destocking,
crop rotation, afforestation, reforestation, inter cropping, filling
gullies with brushwood
- Causes of the loss of biodiversity
-
Human
activities like agriculture or industry, expansion of grazing land
into new habitats, urbanization, over exploitation of forests/oceans,
fishing with dynamite, pollution
- Biodiversity
-
Refers
to the variety of life on earth in all its forms
- Coniferous
-
They
are cone-bearing seed plants with vascular tissue; all extant
conifers are woody plants, the great majority being trees with just a
few being shrubs
- Deciduous
- Consists
of broad leaves and are found in temperate regions.
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