This document provides guidance on how to structure a data collection section for a coursework assignment. It recommends organizing the data collection description into a table with sections for the techniques used, where and when each technique was conducted, the method, purpose and justification, any problems encountered and solutions, and limitations. An example is given of collecting data through techniques like a car tax disc survey, photographs, and pedestrian count at specific city center locations and times.

1. Data Collection Aka next bit of Coursework

2. Data Collection This section is all about how you have collected data on your field-study day. It should also include how you have collected secondary data – i.e. any data that you haven’t collected yourself e.g. internet or postal request.

3. Data collection Edexcel (the exam board we use for GCSE) state that they like this section in a table. You should have a photocopied sheet that gives you the headings for each section:

4. Data Collection - Techniques In this section you state the techniques you used to collect information: Car tax disc survey Photographs Questionnaire Pedestrian count etc.

5. Data collection – Where/When In this section you state the location(s) and times that you did each technique. For example, City centre, outside Marks and Spencer’s, 11:30 am-11:45 am, and Bailgate, outside main Cathedral entrance, 13:45 pm-14:00 pm.

6. Data collection - Method This section is used to describe how you collected information – e.g. how did you do a pedestrian count? If there was a time limit to the activity (e.g. pedestrian count) then make sure this is stated here.

7. Data collection – Purpose/justification This section is where you explain why you collected the data – for example why did you ask questionnaires? What did you hope to find out by doing the technique?

8. Data Collection – Problems/Solutions. This is where you explain any problems you came across when collecting data and how you managed to solve the problem. For example – did you have people questioning what you were doing in a car park?

9. Data Collection - Limitations Limitations are something that could affect the quality and accuracy of your results. For example, people noticed that some car tax discs were stamped DVLA – how does that affect the quality of your findings?