OR TAMBO INLAND DISTRICT – GEOGRAPHY MAPWORK
RESEARCH TASK
COMPETITIONS
SUBJECT GEOGRAPHY
GRADE 12
TASK RESEARCH
IMPLEMENTATION DATE APRIL 2026
MARKS 100
.
RESEARCH TASK GRADE 12 2026
Write a research and investigate the contribution made by maize production to food
security and economic development in your area.
RESEARCH TOPIC
Contribution made by Maize Production to Food Security and
Economic Development.
The Structure and Layout of your Research may follow the guidelines below. Marks
1.1. Cover page 1 A4 Page 3
1.2 Index 1 A4 Page 4
2. Introduction Length
• Give a brief background about the economic sector to ½ A4 Page
which maize production is classified. State the type of
farming methods that are used to produce maize.
Outline the byproducts produced from maize crop. 6
Briefly state the uses of maize in South Africa as well as
some other parts of the world. Cite main maize
producing regions in South Africa. Outline a brief
description of the conditions that favor and hinder maize
production. Provide an overview of what food security
and economic development entails. Enlist the indicators
of economic development and food security that will be
used in this research to measure the contribution of
maize to economic development and food security.
3. Research Objectives 6
• State how researching on this topic will help to improve / ½ A4 Page
change / stimulate / capacitate / make awareness /
revitalize the methods of maize growing to aspirant
growers in South Africa.
RESEARCH TASK GRADE 12 2026
4. Research Hypothesis 5
• Hypothesis is an assumption that has not yet been ½ A4
researched and there is no tangible in depth data to prove Page
it yet. A researcher observes and identifies a geographical
problem / topic and then makes an assumption based
merely on the observation. After data collection, in depth
analysis and interpretation the researcher makes findings
which may prove the assumption to be correct or incorrect.
If findings prove the assumption to be incorrect the
hypothesis is rejected. If the findings prove the assumption
to be correct the hypothesis is accepted.
o Refer to the background in your introduction and the
research topic and generate an assumption about
the extent to which maize contributes to food
security and economic development in South Africa.
At this stage you have not collected data yet to
support the statement your hypothesis, it is just an
assumption.
o Your hypothesis can be phrased as a statement or
in a question.
5. Study Area
Describe the geographic area (Province / Municipal 1 5
Demarcation / District) where the research will be Paragraph
conducted. A4 size
Paper
• Include a map of the study area. 5
• The area under study should be clearly demarcated
on the map.
The map must be on scale and should have all map
elements (Map Title, map scale, north arrow, neat map
border).
Maps with current location information may be downloaded
from high resolution satellite images obtained from the
internet or any other GIS software.
RESEARCH TASK GRADE 12 2026
6. Research Methodology
6.1 • Depending on availability, accessibility of data and
size of the Study Area, you may use both Primary
and Secondary Data.
(a) Primary Data Collection
State the sources of primary data for your research. ½ A4 Page 8
o Sources may include interviews,
observations from the field, pictures taken
by camera etc.
o Questioners may be sent to respondents
that are remote via WhatsApp, Emails or
any other platform that may assist you to
collect data remotely such as telephone
conversations.
o NB You should only cite the sources of
data that will provide specific relevant data
for your research for each indicator of
economic development, indicator of
food security, influencing factors such
as topography, climate, etc.
• Indicate how sampling (number of people to be
interviewed) for primary data collection will be
done.
• Indicate the tools (e.g. questioners) that will be
used to record responses from primary data.
• Indicate how data will be analysed and interpreted
to be used.
RESEARCH TASK GRADE 12 2026
(b) Secondary Data Collection
• State sources where secondary data will be ½ a Page 8
obtained.
• Sources may include geography textbooks,
geography study guides, handouts, newspaper
articles, internet websites, satellite images,
topographic maps, orthophoto maps, atlas maps
etc.
• NB You should cite only the sources of data
that will be used in your research.
• State data to be collected from each secondary
data source.
o Actual data that may be literature notes,
graphs, pictures or tabular data that provide
information about physical and climatic
factors such as rainfall, relief, soil, etc.;
favoring or hindering maize production.
RESEARCH TASK GRADE 12 2026
7. Discussion, Data analysis, Data Interpretation. 10
7.1 • Refer to data collected from primary and / OR 2 Pages
Secondary data sources.
• Discuss, describe, explain, analyse, interpret and
use illustrations and statistics to demonstrate
contribution how maize production contributes to
economic development in your area.
• The discussion of the contribution may be shown
on the indicators of economic development such
as employment, source of income, skills
development, stimulating growth in the
secondary industry, improvement of
infrastructure, multiplier effect etc)
• Contribution to each indicator may be discussed
in a paragraph.
• Support your discussion with relevant illustrations
(tables, graphs, pictures, maps etc) where
appropriate.
7.2 • Refer to data collected from primary and / OR 2 Pages 10
secondary data sources.
• Discuss, describe, explain, analyse, interpret and
use illustrations and statistics to demonstrate
contribution of maize production to food
security.
• Contribution of maize to food security may be
demonstrated by discussing each indicator of
food security.
• Each indicator may be discussed in a paragraph.
• Support your discussion with relevant illustrations
(tables, graphs, pictures, maps etc) where
appropriate.
RESEARCH TASK GRADE 12 2026
8. Findings and Recommendations
• FINDINGS may show outcome of the 1 Page 10
interpretation of data. Evaluation on each
economic and food security indicator may show
findings that the contribution of maize to
economic development and food security, for
example is significant or insignificant; is more or
less; has evidence of contribution or no evidence
of contribution; is increasing or decreasing; is
rapidly showing impacts or consistently low; is
direct or indirect etc.
• Propose recommendations to your findings. 8
1 paragraph to 8
½ A4 Page.
9. Conclusion (Accept / Reject) Hypothesis
• Refer to section 4 (Formulating Hypothesis). Summarise
the main points in your findings to determine whether
they agree / disagree with the hypothesis you have
formulated and decide if your hypothesis is accepted
or rejected.
10. Bibliography 4
• Write a bibliography using the Harvard method of 1 Page
referencing.
RESEARCH TASK GRADE 12 2026
Marking Rubric Name and Surname of Learner…………………………………………………
Activities Marks Information Required Length
Total Educator Moderator
Cover page 3 • Name & Surname 1 A4 page
• Grade and Class
• Educator’s Name
• Subject
• Research Topic:
Index • Numbers
4 • Topics 1 A4 page
• Sub-topics
• Page numbers
• Brief background of economic sectors
Introduction 6 • Overview of farming activities ½ A4 page
• Overview of uses of Maize in South Africa
• Main Maize producing regions
• Examples of economic development
indicators and food security indicators
Research 6 • Indication of the intended impacts to be ½ A4 page
Objectives achieve by the research.
Research 5 • Statement of Assumptions based on the ½ A4
Hypothesis research topic and background pages
information
Study Area 5 • Description of the study area 1 A4 page
5 • Map showing study area
Research 8 • Sources of Primary ½ A4 Page
Methodology
8 Sources Of Secondary Data ½ A4 Page
Discussions, 10 • Discussions on economic development. 2 Pages
Analysis and
Interpretation
10 • Discussions on food security 2 Pages
Findings and 10 Evaluation of information from 1 Page
Recommendations. discussions.
8 Proposing recommendations from
findings.
Conclusion 8 • Summarize main point in the ½ Page
findings
• Accept / Reject the hypothesis
Bibliography 4 • List of References 1 Page
Total 100 9 -10 A4 pages
