| Description |
1 online resource (xxiii, 366 pages) : illustrations, maps |
| Contents |
Cover; Title; Copyright; Contents; List of figures; List of tables; List of boxes; List of contributors; Preface; Acknowledgements; 1 Introduction; 2 Philosophies underlying human geography research; Introduction; Why bother with philosophy?; Geographical research; Some philosophical debates; Human geography and social theory; Geography in practice: approaches and methods; Section A Preparing for the research project; 3 Choosing a topic; A tale of two students; Is my project research?; Is my project geographical?; Is my project practical?; Summary; 4 Finding previous work on the topic |
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IntroductionCast the net widely; Making a start; Subject catalogues; Bibliographies; Abstracts; Reference lists and citation indexes; Computerised databases; The Internet; Inter-library loans; Conclusion; 5 Secondary data; Secondary data -- definitions and functions; Availability of secondary data; Problems with secondary data; Conclusion: potential and pitfalls; Section B Collecting primary data; 6 Questionnaire design and sampling; Introduction; Different data and variable types; Main stages of the survey process; Error in survey research; Questionnaire design; Sampling |
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Choice of survey techniqueExecution of fieldwork; The aftermath; 7 Tell me about ... : using interviews as a research methodology; Why talk to people?; Who to talk to; Recruiting interviewees; Where to hold interviews; Asking questions; Potential problems; Taping; Interviewing in different cultural contexts; What next?; How to practise your interview skills; 8 Focus groups; Introduction; The origins of focus groups; The potential uses of focus groups; Setting up a focus group; Running a focus group; Transcribing and analysing focus group material; Concluding remarks |
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9 'Participatory' approaches and diagramming techniquesIntroduction; 'Bothering with philosophy'; Using a 'participatory' research methodology in 'developing' and 'developed world' contexts; Practical suggestions for 'doing' participation 'deeply'; The scientific validity of 'participatory' approaches and techniques; Conclusion; 10 Participant observation; Introduction; a) Access; b) Roles; c) Constructing information; Concluding comments; Section C Analysis of data; 11 Analysing numerical spatial data; Preamble; When should I start thinking about data analysis? |
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Why should I undertake data analysis?How do I decide what technique to use?; How geographical is my analysis?; What problems might I encounter?; Summary; 12 Analysing categorical data; Introduction; Exploratory analysis; Basic confirmatory techniques; Modelling more complex relationships; Summary; 13 Analysing qualitative materials; Approaching materials; Categories, contents and codes; Sifting and sorting: developing ideas; Building ideas, developing theory; Formal relationships and structures; Narrative, plots and characters: stories we weave; From 'data' to theory and back again |
| Summary |
This text is an essential guide to current research approaches in human geography, covering all aspects of undertaking a geography research project, from the selection of an appropriate topic through to the organisation and writing of the final report. Covering a wide range of contemporary research methods, the authors provide practical advice on how to actually undertake a project |
| Notes |
Originally published: Pearson Education Limited : 2007 |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references (pages 338-360) and index |
| Subject |
Human geography -- Research
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Human geography -- Methodology.
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Human geography -- Methodology
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Human geography -- Research
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| Form |
Electronic book
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| Author |
Flowerdew, Robin, editor
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Martin, David, 1965 July 18- editor.
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| ISBN |
9781317873389 |
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1317873386 |
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9780582473218 |
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0582473217 |
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