The Independent Investigation (NEA)

This lesson provides comprehensive guidance on the Non-Examined Assessment (NEA), also known as the Independent Investigation, which is worth 70 marks and constitutes 20% of the total Edexcel A-Level Geography grade. The NEA is a 3,000-4,000 word investigation based on primary fieldwork data, and it is the one component where you have complete control over the topic, methodology and analysis.

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NEA Overview

The NEA requires you to carry out an independent geographical investigation that:

1. Is based on a question or issue defined by the student.
2. Includes primary data collected through fieldwork.
3. Is 3,000-4,000 words (excluding title page, contents, bibliography, appendices and data tables within the data presentation section).
4. Relates to content from the Edexcel Geography specification.
5. Demonstrates independent thinking and analysis.

Mark Allocation

Section	Description	Marks	% of NEA
Section 1: Introduction	Purpose, geographical context, literature review, hypotheses/sub-questions	10	14%
Section 2: Methodology	Methods, sampling, justification, risk assessment	15	21%
Section 3: Data Presentation and Analysis	Tables, graphs, maps, statistical tests, analysis of patterns	15	21%
Section 4: Conclusions and Evaluation	Answering the question, wider context, evaluation of methodology, improvements	20	29%
Section 5: Overall Quality	Communication, terminology, referencing, independence	10	14%
Total		70	100%

Exam Tip: Notice that Conclusions and Evaluation (Section 4) is worth the most marks — 20 out of 70 (29%). This means that even if your data collection did not go perfectly, you can still achieve high marks by writing a thoughtful, analytical evaluation. Many students rush the conclusion and evaluation to focus on data presentation — this is the opposite of what the mark scheme rewards.

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Choosing a Title

The title (or research question) is the foundation of your entire investigation. A good title is:

• Geographical — rooted in a concept, process or theory from the specification
• Investigable — can be answered through primary fieldwork data
• Focused — narrow enough to address in 3,000-4,000 words
• Interesting — something you genuinely want to find out

Strong vs Weak Titles

Weak Title	Problem	Stronger Alternative
"How does the River Exe change downstream?"	Too generic; no theoretical basis; predictable outcome	"To what extent does the Bradshaw Model accurately predict downstream changes in channel characteristics along a 5 km stretch of the River Exe?"
"Is gentrification happening in Brixton?"	Yes/no question; too vague	"How has gentrification affected the cultural identity and socio-economic composition of Brixton between 2010 and 2024, and to what extent do residents' experiences align with the Butler gentrification model?"
"A study of coastal erosion"	Not a question; no focus; no theory	"To what extent does lithology determine the rate and form of cliff retreat along a 3 km stretch of the Holderness coast, and how effective are the current coastal management strategies?"
"How does vegetation affect soil?"	Too broad; no location; no theory	"Does the infiltration rate and organic content of soil vary significantly between heathland, grassland and woodland habitats in the New Forest, and does this support the concept of ecological succession?"

Sub-Questions and Hypotheses

Every NEA should include either sub-questions (for exploratory investigations) or hypotheses (for investigations testing a specific theory). Aim for 3-5 sub-questions or hypotheses:

Example (sub-questions):

1. How do building ages, land use types and architectural styles vary between the regenerated and non-regenerated zones of Stratford?
2. To what extent do environmental quality scores differ between the two zones?
3. How do residents' perceptions of change, belonging and satisfaction differ between the two zones?

Example (hypotheses):

1. H1: Channel width increases downstream, consistent with the Bradshaw Model.
2. H2: Flow velocity increases downstream, consistent with the Bradshaw Model.
3. H3: Sediment size decreases downstream, consistent with the Bradshaw Model.

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Designing Methodology

The methodology section must describe, justify and evaluate your data collection methods. You need both primary and secondary data.

Primary Data Collection

Primary data is data you collect yourself through fieldwork. Common methods include:

Method	Suitable For	Key Considerations
Questionnaires/surveys	Perception studies, place identity, regeneration impacts	Sample size, question design (avoid leading questions), ethical considerations
Environmental quality surveys	Comparing areas, assessing regeneration, urban environments	Standardised criteria, bipolar scales, observer bias
River measurements	Channel width, depth, velocity, sediment size	Equipment accuracy, safety, site selection, number of measurements
Transect surveys	Vegetation, beach profiles, urban land use	Systematic sampling, spacing, recording methods
Pedestrian/traffic counts	Footfall, congestion, accessibility	Time of day, day of week, weather effects, duration
Soil testing	pH, moisture, infiltration, organic content	Equipment calibration, number of samples, sampling depth
Photography	Visual evidence, environmental audit	Systematic approach, geo-referencing, annotation

Secondary Data Sources

Secondary data is data collected by others that you use to complement your primary data:

• Census data (ONS) — population, ethnicity, employment, housing tenure
• Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) — composite deprivation scores at LSOA level
• Environment Agency data — flood risk maps, river flow data, water quality
• Met Office data — climate data, weather records
• Historical maps and photographs — evidence of change over time
• Academic papers and reports — theoretical context and comparative data
• Local authority documents — planning applications, regeneration plans, consultation reports

Sampling Strategies