Monkey Geography

Term 2

Its project time use the information below to guide you to success in your upcoming geography projects. If you find any useful articles that are relevant for the project then post them as a comment below.

Why is Seef Mall a popular place to shop?  

Introduction

In Geography you have been looking at the retail industry– Shopping. You have looked at how shopping habits have changed over time. Shopping habits have changed significantly in Bahrain with the rise of the shopping mall. We have compared the shopping experience in the Souq to that in shopping malls and have looked at the advantages and disadvantages of each.

 In this assignment, you will be putting your knowledge, skills and understanding of shopping issues to the test.  You will demonstrate your ability

1. to ask geographical questions
2.  to  collect a range of data to help you find the answers to your enquiry
3.  to present your results in graphical form
4. to analyse and interpret your results
5. to draw sound conclusions based on the data you collected) to evaluate your data collection methods and suggest improvements for future investigations
6. to evaluate your data collection methods and suggest improvements for future investigations
7. to evaluate your data collection methods and suggest improvements for future investigations
8. 

Task

Shopping malls have proven very popular in Bahrain. Over time the number of shoppers visiting shopping malls have increased while the number of shoppers visiting the Souq has decreased.  The aim of the investigation is to find out why shopping malls are a popular place to shop. You will do this by investigating Seef Mall. Seef Mall has been here since 1998. since then it has grown very quickly and become one of the most popular places in Bahrain. But is everything about it good?

The investigation

We are aiming to investigate :

Why people choose to go there instead of to other places

To do this we need to make a number of PREDICTIONS. These predictions are called HYPOTHESES. We can then gather evidence to see whether these predictions are right or not.

 You will test the following three  hypotheses and then create a 4th of your own:

• Seef Mall has good accessibility.
• Seef Mall  offers a wide range of goods and services
• Seef Mall has a good environmental quality
• ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Writing up your field work

 You will now produce a report on the findings of your Seef Mall study. Your report will include five sections.

 REPORT SECTIONS

 INTRODUCTION

• What is your project about? i.e what question are you going to answer? Why is this important to you?
• What and where is Seef Mall? Include an annotated map of the world and Bahrain and some background information on Seef Mall.
• How has shopping changed in Bahrain?
• Why do you think shopping malls are more popular than the souq?
• What are your hypotheses?

You should do some secondary research to find out about the success of shopping malls in Bahrain. Include facts and figures to improve your work!

Look at http://www.seef.net

 METHODOLGY (Data collection)

This section requires you to describe exactly what you did to answer your key question: “ Why is Seef Mall a popular place to shop?”. You need to describe the data collection methods you used to answer each hypothesis.

E.g. Hypothesis 1: Seef Mall is very accessible

Method: Traffic count……(give detailed description including location, time spent counting, types of vehicles e.t.c)

Method: Questionnaire……..……(give detailed description including number of people questioned)

  Hypothesis 2:Most shops in Seef mall sell comparison goods

Method: Land-use map……………………………………………………….

Hypothesis 3: The environmental quality in Seef Mall is very good Method: Environmental Quality Survey………………………………….

 (you should include a blank copy of your data collection sheets)

DATA PRESENTATION and INTERPRETATION (What did you find out?)

 In this section you need to present your results in a variety of graphs and maps. You need to convert your raw data into tables then decide which graph is most suitable (pie chart, bar graph, divided bar graph, radargraph, scatter graph, land use map,  e.t.c).

For each hypothesis you need to:

• Draw a graph to show your results (remember to give each graph a full title and fully labelled axes)
• Describe your graphs/maps (remember to refer to specific data shown in your graphs)
• Explain your results (give reasons for your results)

Say whether the hypothesis is true or false

CONCLUSION

In this section you need to answer the original question: : “ Why is Seef Mall a popular place to shop?”.

Summarise the findings of each hypothesis and use this to help you explain why Seef Mall is popular.

 If you want to score a higher level, try to suggest potential disadvantages of shopping malls such a Seef Mall. What impact will it have on the culture of Bahrain? What about the livelihoods of those who own shops in the souq or work in the Souq? What impact will it have on the environment ?

 Suggest ways these negative impacts could be reduced. E.g. what could be done to balance the number of shoppers visiting both Shopping malls and the Souq? What could shopping malls do to become more environmentally friendly?

EVALUATION (How can the project be improved?)

 In this section you need to think about the validity of your conclusions. You will do this by thinking about how reliable your data collection methods were and then decide how accurate your results are. For each hypothesis you need to:

• Think of the problems (limitations) of your data collection techniques
• Say whether these problems may have affected the accuracy of your results
• Decide whether your conclusions are valid or not
• Suggest what you could do to improve the data collection method if you were to repeat the project again

WORD BOX

(Try to include some  of the following words  and phrases into your write up)

 Accessible                 Retail             Environment                  Convenience goods

 Comparison Goods         Sphere of Influence      Livelihoods

 Traditional Modern Culture Shopping habits

 Decline Economy

How will your work be marked?

Level 3: Out lines the purpose of the project Describes where the study area is Suggests a few reasons why Seef Mall is popular Gives a simple description of data collection methods Draws graphs to show results but forgets to give them a title and fully labelled axes Writes a simple conclusion

Level 4: Out lines purpose of the report and gives main aims Describes where the study area  is in relation to Manama and includes a labelled map Suggests how shopping has changed in Bahrain Describes how the data for each objective was collected Draws graphs to show results and describes what they show. Writes a summary statement to conclude the report Uses some geographical words

Level 5: Gives a clear statement of the purpose of the project and clear aims Describes where the study area is in relation to Manama and includes an annotated map with a title Describes in more detail how shopping has changed in Bahrain giving a range of advantages of shopping malls Describes in more detail what data was collected and how it was collected  Draws graphs using ICT (includes titles and fully labelled axes) and describes what they show Gives some reasons to explain the data Includes a conclusion to summarise the findings Uses a range of geographical words

Level 6: Purpose of project and aims are given in detail Gives detailed locational knowledge of the study area in Manama and Bahrain and includes maps Gives a detailed introduction to shopping in Bahrain explaining how it has changed Shows evidence of further research (secondary research) Describes and explains methods of data collection in more detail Draws a range of graphs and offers a range of explanations for their results Reaches conclusions that fit the evidence Suggests some limitations of the data collection techniques and suggests improvements Uses an extended range of geography words

 

Level 7: Purpose of project and aims are given in more detail. Suggest why this project is relevant Detailed locational knowledge of the study area within Manama, Bahrain and the World and includes maps Explains in detail the change in shopping habits and advantages and disadvantages of shopping malls Includes secondary sources of information Draws a range of more complex graphs and gives detailed descriptions and explanations of results Gives well argued summaries and provides clear conclusions Gives your own opinions Explains potential disadvantages of shopping malls to people, the economy and the environment Identifies a range of limitations of the data collection methods and suggests improvements

Level 8: Purpose of project and aims are given in detail. Suggest why this project is relevant and important Detailed locational Knowledge of the study area within the world and includes a range of  maps Shows full understanding of the positive and negative effects of shopping malls to people, the economy and the environment Describes in detail ways to reduce the negative impacts of shopping Malls Shows evidence of independent learning and research (providing facts and figures and different cases studies of shopping malls in different countries) Understands different opinions and views on shopping malls and justifies own views. Gives detailed summaries and justified conclusions Evaluates fieldwork/project and suggests improvements

 

 Mapskills game: http://mapzone.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/mapzone/gamespages/action.html

Choose the treasure hunt game 3rd one down and see if you can beat 7 mins 38 seconds which was my time. You beat that you win my respect as well as a prize beyond your wildest imaginings. Once you have completed the first game post your name and completed time on the blog below here.

You won’t beat me! mwah mwah mwah

Mr Moncur