Geography IA Research Question Evaluator
Use the tabs below to generate a new Geography IA idea or evaluate your current research question.
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Compare High-Scoring vs. Flawed Geography RQs
Below are examples of evaluated RQs from recent Geography IAs. Review the strengths and weaknesses to understand the scoring criteria, and feel free to evaluate your own RQ using the form above.
To what extent does surface temperature (°C) vary with percentage tree canopy cover along a 3 km transect from Manchester city centre (Oxford Road) to Heaton Park during midday measurements in July 2026?
Strengths:
Clear focus on the relationship between two measurable variables.
Weaknesses:
Specify a named theoretical or evaluative framework to guide interpretation (e.g., add a known model such as the Urban Heat Island theory). For example, insert: "and how well this relationship aligns with urban heat island theory".
To what extent does nitrate concentration (mg/L) increase downstream along the River Cam between Bottisham and central Cambridge over a 10 km reach during low-flow conditions in March 2026, and how well does the observed pattern fit the Serial Discontinuity Concept?
Strengths:
Clear, testable relationship between a measurable outcome (nitrate concentration) and a spatial-extent variable (the 10 km reach).
Weaknesses:
Is Geography important?
Strengths:
Clear interrogative form that ends with a question mark.
Weaknesses:
Specify a named location to bound the study (e.g., replace the question with: What is the extent to which Geography is important for urban planning decisions in [City Name] in 2024?).
How does the Shannon–Wiener biodiversity work?
Strengths:
Uses a named index (Shannon–Wiener) which provides a clear evaluative construct.
Weaknesses:
Specify a single, named study location to ground the fieldwork (e.g., replace with: "at Riverbank Park" or "in Riverbank Park, City X"). Example: How does the Shannon–Wiener biodiversity index relate species richness to sampling effort at Riverbank Park, City X, during May–June 2025?
How to Evaluate Your Research Question
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