Departmental description an introduction to the quantitative methods commonly used to test hypotheses in geography with an emphasis on interpretation of results produced by statistical software rather than underlying mathematical structure. Given this as a beginning point, the goal of this paper is to provide an overview of quantitative geography, recognizing that such methods have been or could be applied to human and physical geography problems and issues. Introductory quantitative methods in human geography. Although pioneering studies using statistical methods in geographical data analysis were published in the 1930s, it was only in the 1960s that their increasing use in human geography led to a claim that a quantitative revolution had taken place.
That transformation emerged not without challenge the rise of qualitative geography has been and in some places continues to be the subject of resistance and controversy, anger and acrimony, as other methods seemed to some to be challenged, and qualitative methods appeared, according to the norms of physical science. The goal of quantitative methods is to determine whether the predictive generalizations of a theory hold true. Quantitative methods in the early 21st century are vastly more sophisticated than their earlier counterparts. Qualitative research methods in human geography is a comprehensive, practical guide to understanding and conducting qualitative research in human geography. Quantitative methods broad term referring to scientific methods that incorporate some combination of collecting numerical data such as metriclevel measurements, collecting data using relatively structured and closedended approaches and formats, and analyzing data with numerical and statistical approaches physical and human geography. Such a standpoint neglects the fact that the practice of human geographic research. Or, a quantitative study may identify research areas that require the application of qualitative methods to provide an indepth understanding of the phenomenon at hand or when the use of quantitative methods is insufficient to answer questions that relate to human behavior such as feelings, values, and beliefs. Using questionnaires in qualitative human geography abstract this chapter deals with questionnaires, an informationgathering technique used frequently in mixed method research that draws on quantitative and qualitative data sources and analysis. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools.
As in the first edition the authors attempt to give an insight into some of the techniques and underlying concepts of numerical analysis which form such an integral part of modern. Since the quantitative revolution in the 1950s and 1960s, the philosophy underpinning human geography research has diversified enormously. Data associated with more humanistic approach to geography, often collected through intervidews, empirical observations, or interpretation of documents. Typically these methods will include gis, descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. A quantitative comparison of the similarity between genes and geography in worldwide human populations. Geography 3001 qualitative research methods in human geography. Behavioral geography is an approach to human geography that attempts to understand human activity in space, place, and environment by studying it at the disaggregate level of analysisat the level of the individual person. However, we also suspect that the typical levels of quantitative training in university human geography courses are not sufficiently high to. The method can be quantitative, qualitative, or mixed e. Marketing geography and transportation geography health. The quantitative methods research group qmrg is pleased to welcome submissions for its 2011 dissertation prize.
These methods help to simplify complex information and to present it in a form that is more easily understood. Qualitative geography, by contrast is represented as nonempiricist or postempiricist. A critique of the development of quantitative methodologies in human geography alan marshall introduction quantitative methodologies are a powerful research technique in human geography that can provide valuable and accurate insights if used appropriately and with an understanding of the limitations. The quantitative and behavioural revolutions in geography. We will draw from other disciplines such as anthropology and sociology for methodological insights, but my goal is to focus our attention on approaches that are particularly appropriate to human geography. The role of statistical analysis in geography may be placed within a broader context through its. Level explanation method 1 the method is the theoretical, philosophical, and data analytic perspective. Find paragraphs, long and short essays on the approaches to human geography especially written for school and college students. Realism, subjectivism and the paradigm wars now we have defined quantitative research, it is a good idea to compare it with qualitative research, to which it is usually put in opposition.
Read download quantitative geography pdf pdf download. Through this course, students will develop an understanding of basic concepts, reasoning and procedures in quantitative methods used in geography. This seminar will explore qualitative methodologies in human geography research. Essay on humanistic geography essay on behavioural geography essay on timespace geography. Ap human geography unit 1 quantitativequalitative data. These various approaches pervade most of contemporary human geography. Approaches to human geography essay branches geography. Using questionnaires in qualitative human geography.
Quantitative methods in the early 21st century are. It means the application of subjects like mathematics and statistics, econometrics and operations research to understand and solve problems it is a study of the. Thus the diffusion of quantitative techniques took place in the 1960s which enabled the geographers to develop more. Approaches to human geography philosophies, theories, people and practices second edition edited by stuart aitken and gill valentine sage was founded in 1965 by sara miller mccune to support the dissemination of usable knowledge by publishing. A quantitative comparison of the similarity between genes. Introductory quantitative methods in human geography course convenors dr karen haandrikman, department of human geography, stockholm university kursansvarig dr thomas niedomysl, department of social and economic geography, lund university the course is a collaboration between the department of human geography, stockholm university.
Our results provide information about the importance of geography in human evolutionary history, and can facilitate statistical methods for inferring the ancestral origin of human individuals from their genotypes. Quantitative methods in human geography oxford bibliographies. Stressing the local article pdf available in progress in human geography 211 march 1997 with 1,372 reads how we measure reads. What are the five major types of data collection in geography. It came as a response to the inadequacy of regional geography to explain general spatial dynamics. The prize is for the best dissertation in any area of quantitative geography, which include the application of existing techniques or the development of new ones in physical, human or environmental studies. It is argued here that such a goal is desirable for quantitative human geography, particularly as trends in this area suggest a turn towards the creation of algorithms and codes.
They contend that quantitative research is time and context free. This course in an introduction to the use of quantitative information in geography, including data collection, management, and analysis. Qualitative research methods in human geography british. Pdf geography 3001 qualitative research methods in human. Quantitative research involves measurable, objective subject matter and can demonstrate the significance one subject may have with another. Sample a limited number of things, such as a group of 100 people or 50 pebbles on a beach. Quantitative data data associated with mathematical models and statistical techniques used to analyze spatial location and association. Descriptive statistics are performed by analyzing one variable at a time univariate analysis. The main objectives of the quantitative revolution in geography were as under. Home page social sciences human geography economic geography quantitative techniques in geography. The longterm development of human geography has progressed in tandem with that of the discipline more generally see geography. This new and enlarged edition contains extra material on a number of topics, including geography and computers, transformation and combination of date, cluster sampling, the use of surrogates and linear programming.
The quantitative methods programme is written by david targett, professor of information systems at the school of management, university of bath and formerly senior lecturer in decision sciences at the london business school. Approaches to human geography philosophies, theories. As in the first edition the authors attempt to give an insight into some of the techniques and underlying concepts of numerical analysis which form such an integral part of modern geography. While quantitative research is based on numerical data analysed statistically, qual. Representations of quantitative geography, both by practitioners and by others, have tended to associate quantification with empiricism, positivism, and the social and academic status quo. Another issue of interest for positivists is generalizability. What is the distinction between primary and secondary data sources. Analytical procedures will include graphical presentation of data, descriptive statistics, application of probability and sampling theory, and inferential statistics. Start studying ap human geography unit 1 quantitativequalitative data. The quantitative revolution qr n was a paradigm shift that sought to develop a more rigorous and systematic methodology for the discipline of geography. Geography has a long tradition of quantitative methods research and teaching. Quantitative techniques in geography an introduction r. With the aid of the computer geographers often test their research by using quantitative mathematical and statistical methods.
Quantitative methods are indispensable tools for mediating the interaction between theory and experiment, within a scientific paradigm that. Here is a compilation of essays on the approaches to human geography for class 11 and 12. All researchers perform these descriptive statistics before beginning any type of data analysis. Importance of quantitative techniques in managerial decisions abstract the term quantitative techniques refers to the methods used to quantify the variables in any discipline. Using a unique howto approach to focus on the practical application of research in human geography by providing realworld examples of research methods at work in case studies, this fourth edition teaches students how to. This is an introduction to quantitative methods in geography with a focus on, but not limited to, statistical techniques. Quantitative research methods nova southeastern university. With the exception of cultural geography, quantitative methods are used to analyze and identify regularities in data sets large and small, taking advantage of technical advances, such as with methods of artificial intelligence for classifying individuals and areas. The aim of spatial analysis is to understand differences across space rather than regularities. What kind of quantitative methods for what kind of geography.
Quantitative methods have been an integral part of human geography since the quantitative revolution of the 1950s. Qualitative research methods in human geography qualitative research is the collection of information about human behaviour and perception. Behavioral geography geography oxford bibliographies. Reproducible quantitative research is research that has been documented sufficiently rigorously that a third party can replicate any quantitative results that arise. This case study is a discussion of how nonexperimental, quantitative research methodologies were used in a human resource management study. Such mixed research methods offer human geographers the opportunity to identify the appropriate role for quantitative methods and explore how. It is about focusing in depth to find out why and how certain activities and events occur. Quantitative research is an inquiry into an identified problem, based on testing a theory, measured with numbers, and analyzed using statistical techniques. Medical or health geography is the application of geographical information, perspectives, and methods to the study of health, disease, and health care. The examples are taken from both physical and human geography. In search of transnational scholarship and languages within human geography, the socalled quantitative revolution of the 1960s arguably holds considerable pride of place.
Quantitative methods in geography courses douglas college. Quantitative methodologies in human resource management. Economic geography examines relationships between human economic systems, states, and other factors, and the biophysical environment subfields include. Behavioral geographers analyze data on the behavior of individual people, recognizing that individuals vary from each other. The author addresses the potential of a multiplemethods approach in human geography, an approach to social research which has received little explicit. Geographical a level geography investigations questioning. What are some of the ways geographers and others have made a distinction between quantitative and qualitative methods, and how do they relate to scientific and humanistic approaches in geography.
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