Practising human geography

Practising Human Geography is critical introduction to disciplinary debates about the practice of human geography, that is informed by an inquiry into how geographers actually do research. In examining those methods and practices that are integral to doing geography, the text presents a theoretically-informed reflection on the construction and interpretation of geographical data - including factual and "fictional" sources; the use of core research methodologies; and the interpretative role of the researcher. Framed by an historical overview how ideas of practising human geography have changed, the following three sections offer an comprehensive and integrated overview of research methodologies. Illustrated throughout, the te Practising Human Geography 1 Cover 1 Title Page 4 Copyright Paul Cloke, Ian Cook, Philip Crang, Mark Goodwin, Joe Painter, Chris Philo 2004 5 ISBN 0761973257 0761973001 5 Summary of Contents 6 Contents 8 Preface 11 Acknowledgements 17 Chapter 1 - The Changing Practices of Human Geography: An Introduction 18 Practising human geography? 18 A thumbnail history of practising human geography 24 Conclusion 48 Notes 49 Part I: Constructing Geographical Data 52 Geographical data 52 Preconstructed geographical data 53 Self-constructed geographical data 54 Chapter 2 - Offical Sources 58 Introduction 58 Types of official information 59 Information and state formation 60 The contemporary informational state 66 Understanding the construction of official information 70 Conclusion 78 Notes 78 Chapter 3 - Non-offical Sources 79 Introduction 79 Non-official sources in geographical research 80 Critical issues in the use of non-official data sources 85 Conclusion 108 Note 109 Chapter 4 - Imaginative Sources 110 Introduction 110 Understanding the construction of imaginative sources 111 Imaginative sources in geographical research 121 Case studies 132 Conclusion 139 Notes 139 Chapter 5 - Talking to People 140 Introduction 140 The practices of talking to people 143 Questionnairing 147 Interviewing 165 Discussion groups 176 Ethics: an important end note 181 Notes 185 Chapter 6 - Doing Ethnographies 186 Introduction: what is ethnography and how can it be geographical? 186 Geography’s humanistic ethnographies 188 Geography’s ‘new’ ethnographies 197 Top tips for prospective researchers 212 Conclusion: field-noting 213 Notes 221 Geographical interpretations 224 Interpretational strategies 225 From initial siftings to final writings 227 Part II: Constructing Geographical Interpretations 224 Chapter 7 - Sifting and Sorting 232 Sitting down with your data 232 What happens when we put things into boxes and make lists 240 Alternatives and recommendations 257 Notes 262 Chapter 8 - Enumerating 264 Enumeration and human geography 264 Describing, exploring, inferring 270 Modelling spatial processes 281 Geocomputation 288 GIS and spatial analysis 289 The authority of numbers? 294 Notes 301 Chapter 9 - Explaining 302 The complexity of explanation 302 Explanation through laws: geography as spatial science 303 Explanation as causation 305 Intensive and extensive research 306 The search for a revolution in geographical explanation 307 Explanation through abstraction 308 Explanation and subjectivity 312 Explanation and practice 316 Concluding comments: from the explanation of geography to the geographies within explanation 322 Note 323 Chapter 10 - Understanding 324 Introduction 324 Seven modes of understanding 327 Conclusion: between understanding and explanation 352 Notes 352 Chapter 11 - Representing Human Geographies 353 Introduction 353 The work of writing 354 Presenting research 359 Representation and rhetoric 364 Representation in practice 375 Beyond the book 379 Conclusion 380 Notes 380 Chapter 12 - The Politics of Pratising Human Geography 381 The ‘personal’ politics of geographical practice 381 The politics of research practice 384 The politics of the academy 387 Ethics, morality and geographical research 391 Notes 392 References 393 Index 426 Practising,Human,Geography,(2004),433p,9780761973003,0761973001,0761973257 Practising Human Geography (2004) 433p 9780761973003 0761973001 0761973257 Annotation 'Filling an enormous gap in the geographic literature, here is a terrific book that shows us how to think about and practice human geographic research' - Professor Jennifer Wolch, University of Southern California ` Practising Human Geography lucidly, comprehensively, and sometimes passionately shows why methodology matters, and why it is often so hard. To choose a method is to choose the kind of geographical values one wants to uphold. You need to get it right.These authors do' - Trevor Barnes, University of British Columbia `Practising Human Geography is a godsend for students. Written in an accessible and engaging style, the book demystifies the study of geographical methodology, offering a wealth of practical advice from the authors€™ own research experience. This is not a manual of approved geographical techniques. It is a reflexive, critical and highly personal account, combining historical depth with up-to-the-minute examples of research in practice. Practising Human Geography is a comprehensive and theoretically informed introduction to the practices of fieldwork, data collection, interpretation and writing, enabling students to make sense of their own data and to develop a critical perspective on the existing literature. The book makes complicated ideas approachable through the effective use of case studies and a firm grasp of contemporary debates' - Peter Jackson, Professor of Human Geography, University of Sheffield Practising Human Geography is a critical introduction to key issues in the practice of human geography, informed by the question 'how do geographers do research?' In examining those methods and practices that are essential to doing geography, the text presents a theoretically-informed discussion of the construction and interpretation of geographical data - including: the use of core research methodologies; using official and non-official sources; and the interpretative role of the researcher. Framed by an overview of how ideas of practising human geography have changed, the twelve chapters offer a comprehensive and integrated overview of research methodologies. The text is illustrated throughout with text boxes, case studies, and definitions of key terms. Practising Human Geography will introduce geographers - from undergraduate to faculty - to the core issues that inform research design and practice.

this Textbook Introduces The Research Practices Of The Discipline Of Human Geography, Dividing Its Material Into Two Sections Detailing The Construction Of Geographical Data And The Conduct Of Geographical Interpretation. Chapters In The First Section Cover Official, Non- Official, Imaginative, And Interview-based Sources, Concluding With A Discussion Of Observation, Participation, And Ethnographic Methodologies. The Latter Section Covers Sifting And Sorting Data, Enumerating And Modeling Data, Constructing Explanations, Modes Of Understanding, Means Of Representation, And Political And Moral Concerns. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, Or

"Framed by an overview of how ideas of practising human geography have changed, the twelve chapters offer a comprehensive and integrated overview of research methodologies. The text is illustrated throughout with text boxes, case studies, and definitions of key terms. Practising Human Geography will introduce geographers - from undergraduate to faculty - to the core issues that inform research design and practice."--Jacket