An Introduction to Scientific Research Methods in Geography and Environmental Studies

Author: Daniel Montello
Publisher: SAGE
ISBN: 1446291219
Category : Reference
Languages : en
Pages : 398

Book Description
"Covers a broad range of subjects that undergraduates in the discipline should be familiar and comfortable with upon graduation. From chapters on the scientific method and fundamental research concepts, to experimental design, sampling and statistical analysis, the text offers an excellent introduction to the key concepts of geographical research. The content is applicable for students at the beginning of their studies right through to planning and conducting dissertations. The book has also been of particular support in designing my level 1 and 2 tutorials which cover similar ground to several of the chapters." - Joseph Mallalieu, School of Geography, Leeds University "Montello and Sutton is one of the best texts I′ve used in seminars on research methodology. The text offers a clear balance of quantitative vs. qualitative and physical vs. human which I′ve found particularly valuable. The chapters on research ethics, scientific communication, information technologies and data visualization are excellent." - Kenneth E. Foote, Department of Geography, University of Colorado at Boulder This is a broad and integrative introduction to the conduct and interpretation of scientific research, covering both geography and environmental studies. Written for undergraduate and postgraduate students, it: Explains both the conceptual and the technical aspects of research, as well as all phases of the research process Combines approaches in physical geography and environmental science, human geography and human-environment relations, and geographic and environmental information techniques (such as GIS, cartography, and remote sensing) Combines natural and social scientific approaches common to subjects in geography and environmental studies Includes case studies of actual research projects to demonstrate the breadth of approaches taken It will be core reading for students studying scientific research methods in geography, environmental studies and related disciplines such as planning and earth science.

An Introduction to Scientific Research Methods in Geography

Author: Daniel Montello
Publisher: SAGE Publications, Incorporated
ISBN: 9781412902861
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 320

Book Description
This text provides a broad and integrative introduction to the conduct and interpretation of scientific research in geography. It covers both conceptual and technical aspects, and is applicable to all topical areas in geographic research, including human and physical geography, and geographic information science. The text discusses all parts of the research process, including scientific philosophy; basic research concepts; generating research ideas; communicating research and using library resources; sampling and research design; quantitative and qualitative data collection; data analysis, display, and interpretation; reliability and validity; using geographic information techniques in research; and ethical conduct in research.

Quantitative Geography

Author: Richard Harris
Publisher: SAGE
ISBN: 1473933382
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 387

Book Description
Numerical data are everywhere. Charts and statistics appear not just in geography journals but also in the media, in public policy, and in business and commerce too. To engage with quantitative geography, we must engage with the quantitative methods used to collect, analyse, present and interpret these data. Quantitative Geography: The Basics is the perfect introduction for undergraduates beginning any quantitative methods course. Written in short, user-friendly chapters with full-colour diagrams, the book guides the reader through a wide range of topics from the basic to the more advanced, including: Statistics Maths Graphics Models Mapping and GIS R Closely aligned with the Q-Step quantitative social science programme, Quantitative Geography: The Basics is the ideal starting point for understanding and exploring this fundamental area of Geography.

Research Methods in Outdoor Studies

Author: Barbara Humberstone
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 0429581629
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 369

Book Description
Over the last two decades Outdoor Studies has emerged as an innovative and vibrant field of study. This is the first book to offer a comprehensive appraisal of established and cutting-edge research methods as applied to Outdoor Studies. Covering qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods, the book examines key methodologies, themes and technologies such as digital research, mobile methodologies, ethnography, interviews, research design, research ethics and ways of disseminating research. Featuring contributions from leading researchers from a variety of disciplinary backgrounds, this is an essential text for any Outdoor Studies course or for researchers looking for innovative and creative research techniques.

Social Science Research

Author: Anol Bhattacherjee
Publisher: CreateSpace
ISBN: 9781475146127
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 156

Book Description
This book is designed to introduce doctoral and graduate students to the process of conducting scientific research in the social sciences, business, education, public health, and related disciplines. It is a one-stop, comprehensive, and compact source for foundational concepts in behavioral research, and can serve as a stand-alone text or as a supplement to research readings in any doctoral seminar or research methods class. This book is currently used as a research text at universities on six continents and will shortly be available in nine different languages.

Citizen Science

Author: Janis L. Dickinson
Publisher: Cornell University Press
ISBN: 0801464420
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 299

Book Description
Citizen science enlists members of the public to make and record useful observations, such as counting birds in their backyards, watching for the first budding leaf in spring, or measuring local snowfall. The large numbers of volunteers who participate in projects such as Project FeederWatch or Project BudBurst collect valuable research data, which, when pooled together, create an enormous body of scientific data on a vast geographic scale. In return, such projects aim to increase participants' connections to science, place, and nature, while supporting science literacy and environmental stewardship. In Citizen Science, experts from a variety of disciplines—including scientists and education specialists working at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, where many large citizen science programs use birds as proxies for biodiversity—share their experiences of creating and implementing successful citizen science projects, primarily those that use massive data sets gathered by citizen scientists to better understand the impact of environmental change. This first and foundational book for this developing field of inquiry addresses basic aspects of how to conduct citizen science projects, including goal-setting, program design, and evaluation, as well as the nuances of creating a robust digital infrastructure and recruiting a large participant base through communications and marketing. An overview of the types of research approaches and techniques demonstrates how to make use of large data sets arising from citizen science projects. A final section focuses on citizen science's impacts and its broad connections to understanding the human dimensions and educational aspects of participation. Citizen Science teaches teams of program developers and researchers how to cross the bridge from success at public engagement to using citizen science data to understand patterns and trends or to test hypotheses about how ecological processes respond to change at large geographic scales. Intended as a resource for a broad audience of experts and practitioners in natural sciences, information science, and social sciences, this book can be used to better understand how to improve existing programs, develop new ones, and make better use of the data resources that have accumulated from citizen science efforts. Its focus on harnessing the impact of "crowdsourcing" for scientific and educational endeavors is applicable to a wide range of fields, especially those that touch on the importance of massive collaboration aimed at understanding and conserving what we can of the natural world.

Rediscovering Geography

Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309051991
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 260

Book Description
As political, economic, and environmental issues increasingly spread across the globe, the science of geography is being rediscovered by scientists, policymakers, and educators alike. Geography has been made a core subject in U.S. schools, and scientists from a variety of disciplines are using analytical tools originally developed by geographers. Rediscovering Geography presents a broad overview of geography's renewed importance in a changing world. Through discussions and highlighted case studies, this book illustrates geography's impact on international trade, environmental change, population growth, information infrastructure, the condition of cities, the spread of AIDS, and much more. The committee examines some of the more significant tools for data collection, storage, analysis, and display, with examples of major contributions made by geographers. Rediscovering Geography provides a blueprint for the future of the discipline, recommending how to strengthen its intellectual and institutional foundation and meet the demand for geographic expertise among professionals and the public.

Research Methods in Geography

Author: Basil Gomez
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1444327739
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 480

Book Description
This comprehensive textbook offers a conceptual and practicalintroduction to research methodology, data collection, andtechniques used in both human and physical geography. Explores a full range of contemporary geographic techniques,including statistics, mathematical analysis, GIS, and remotesensing Unique in both content and organization, it brings together ateam of internationally recognized specialists to create a balancedapproach between physical geography, human geography, and researchtechniques Includes a series of foundational chapters offering multipleperspectives on the central questions in research methods Examines the conceptual frameworks and practical issues behinddata acquisition and analysis, and how to interpret results Includes explanations of key terminology and exercisesthroughout

Social Scientific Research

Author: Dawn Brancati
Publisher: SAGE
ISBN: 1526452790
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 510

Book Description
Offering an engaging and entertaining introduction to research methods, this is a practical and easy-to-use companion for all new researchers and students in the social sciences. Covering all the key stages of the research process, this book guides students in navigating some of the biggest challenges in developing a research project. This book: Uses real-life everyday examples, connecting research methods to your experiences Includes dedicated chapters on identifying a research question, ethics and writing up your findings Comprises an array of activities, tips, illustrations and international case studies Covers qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods research Bringing methods to life for students across the social sciences, this book will provide you with the confidence you need to get your research off the ground.

Geographic Citizen Science Design

Author: Artemis Skarlatidou
Publisher: UCL Press
ISBN: 1787356124
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 400

Book Description
Little did Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin and other ‘gentlemen scientists’ know, when they were making their scientific discoveries, that some centuries later they would inspire a new field of scientific practice and innovation, called citizen science. The current growth and availability of citizen science projects and relevant applications to support citizen involvement is massive; every citizen has an opportunity to become a scientist and contribute to a scientific discipline, without having any professional qualifications. With geographic interfaces being the common approach to support collection, analysis and dissemination of data contributed by participants, ‘geographic citizen science’ is being approached from different angles. Geographic Citizen Science Design takes an anthropological and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) stance to provide the theoretical and methodological foundations to support the design, development and evaluation of citizen science projects and their user-friendly applications. Through a careful selection of case studies in the urban and non-urban contexts of the Global North and South, the chapters provide insights into the design and interaction barriers, as well as on the lessons learned from the engagement of a diverse set of participants; for example, literate and non-literate people with a range of technical skills, and with different cultural backgrounds. Looking at the field through the lenses of specific case studies, the book captures the current state of the art in research and development of geographic citizen science and provides critical insight to inform technological innovation and future research in this area.