Conducting Research in Human Geography

Reading this book is your first step to becoming a competent human geography researcher. Whether you are a novice needing practical help for your first piece of research or a professional in search of an accessible guide to best practice, Conducting Research in Human Geography is a unique and indispensable book to have at hand. The book provides a broad overview of theoretical underpinnings in contemporary human geography and links these with the main research methodologies currently being used. It is designed to guide the user through the complete research process, whether it be a one day field study or a large project, from the nurturing of ideas and development of a proposal, to the design of an enquiry, the generation and analysis of data, to the drawing of conclusions and the presentation of findings.

Preface

ix

Acknowledgements

xii

Thinking about research

1

(27)

What is research?

1

(1)

Why do research?

2

(1)

What's unique about geographic research?

3

(1)

What choice of approaches have you got?

4

(15)

Which approach is best?

19

(7)

Summary

26

(1)

Questions for reflection

26

(2)

Further reading

27

(1)

Planning a research project

28

(17)

Introduction

28

(1)

Choosing a research topic

28

(2)

Narrowing the focus

30

(2)

Linking theory and practice

32

(2)

Research design

34

(5)

Choosing a method to generate data

39

(2)

Choosing a method to analyse your data

41

(1)

Conducting group research

42

(1)

Managing and piloting a research project

42

(1)

Summary

43

(1)

Questions for reflection

44

(1)

Further reading

44

(1)

Data generation for quantitative analysis

45

(25)

Introduction

45

(1)

Classifying data types and measurement scales

45

(2)

Generating primary quantitative data

47

(6)

Sampling, estimation and distribution

53

(7)

Obtaining and using secondary data

60

(7)

Summary

67

(2)

Questions for reflection

69

(1)

Further reading

69

(1)

Preparing, exploring and describing quantitative data

70

(38)

Introduction

70

(1)

Data pre-processing and checking

70

(6)

Computer programming

76

(1)

Using the MINITAB statistical package

77

(5)

Initial data analysis

82

(13)

Probability

95

(10)

Transforming data

105

(2)

Summary

107

(1)

Questions for reflection

107

(1)

Further reading

107

(1)

Analysing and interpreting quantitative data

108

(48)

Introduction

108

(1)

Classifying tests

109

(1)

Tests of significance

109

(3)

Choosing the right test

112

(2)

The tests

114

(1)

Parametric tests

115

(24)

Non-parametric tests

139

(13)

What do the test results tell you?

152

(3)

Summary

155

(1)

Questions for reflection

155

(1)

Further reading

155

(1)

Spatial analysis

156

(55)

Introduction

156

(1)

Maps

156

(8)

Geographical Information Systems

164

(11)

Current issues in the use of GIS for socio-economic applications

175

(7)

Sources of digital spatial data

182

(2)

Planning and implementing analysis using GIS

184

(3)

Spatial statistics

187

(22)

Summary

209

(1)

Questions for reflection

209

(2)

Further reading

210

(1)

Producing data for qualitative analysis

211

(18)

Introduction

211

(1)

Qualitative approaches

211

(1)

Primary data production

212

(12)

Specific approaches to producing qualitative data

224

(1)

Secondary sources of qualitative data

225

(3)

Summary

228

(1)

Questions for reflection

228

(1)

Further reading

228

(1)

Analysing and interpreting qualitative data

229

(28)

Introduction

229

(2)

Description, classification, connection

231

(5)

Transcribing and annotation

236

(2)

Categorising qualitative data

238

(6)

Splitting and splicing

244

(2)

Linking and connecting

246

(5)

Corroborating evidence

251

(2)

Analysing qualitative data quantitatively

253

(3)

Summary

256

(1)

Questions for reflection

256

(1)

Further reading

256

(1)

Analysing qualitative data using a computer

257

(13)

Introduction

257

(1)

Getting started and description

258

(2)

Classifying qualitative data using a computer

260

(6)

Connecting qualitative data using a computer

266

(3)

Summary

269

(1)

Questions for reflection

269

(1)

Further reading

269

(1)

Writing-up and dissemination

270

(20)

Introduction

270

(1)

Writing as part of the research process

270

(1)

Writing a final report

271

(15)

Presenting your research as a talk

286

(1)

Before submitting your work

287

(1)

After submitting your work

287

(2)

Summary

289

(1)

Questions for reflection

289

(1)

Further reading

289

(1)

Final words

290

(3)

An overview of conducting research in human geography

290

(1)

Coping with problems

291

(1)

Independent research

291

(1)

Epilogue

292

(1)

Summary

292

(1)

Appendix A Tables

293

(15)

Appendix B Annotation for the interviews with respondents B, C and D

308

(7)

Appendix C Addresses

315

(2)

References

317

(9)

Index

326

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Conducting Research in Human Geography theory, methodology and practice

Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials