Qualitative Research Methods in Human Geography

by Hay, Iain

• ISBN13: 9780195507874
• ISBN10: 0195507878
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-05-31
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

This volume provides concise and accessible guidance on how to conduct qualitative research in human geography. It gives particular emphasis to examples drawn from social/cultural geography, perhaps the most vibrant area of inquiry in human geography over the past decade.

Table of Contents

Foreword	v
Dedication	vii
List of Boxes	xv
Notes on Contributors	xvii
Preface	xxii
Qualitative Research and Its Place in Human Geography	1	(22)
Hilary P. M. Winchester
Chapter overview	1	(1)
Introduction	2	(1)
What is qualitative research?	3	(8)
What questions does qualitative research answer?	3	(4)
Types of qualitative research	7	(3)
The contribution of qualitative techniques to explanation in geography	10	(1)
The relationship between qualitative and quantitative geography	11	(3)
The history of qualitative research in geography	14	(4)
Contemporary qualitative geography---theory/method links	18	(2)
Summary	20	(1)
Key terms	21	(1)
Review questions	21	(1)
Suggested reading	21	(2)
Power, Subjectivity and Ethics in Qualitative Research	23	(14)
Robyn Dowling
Chapter overview	23	(1)
Introduction: on the social relations of research	24	(1)
University ethical guidelines	25	(2)
Privacy and confidentiality	26	(1)
Informed consent	26	(1)
Harm	27	(1)
Moving beyond ethical guidelines: critical reflexivity	27	(2)
Power relations and qualitative research	29	(2)
Subjectivity and intersubjectivity in qualitative data collection	31	(3)
Summary and prompts for critical reflexivity	34	(1)
Key terms	35	(1)
Review questions	35	(1)
Suggested reading	36	(1)
Qualitative Research Design and Rigour	37	(13)
Matt Bradshaw
Elaine Stratford
Chapter overview	37	(1)
Introduction	38	(1)
Asking research questions	38	(3)
From asking research questions to conducting research	39	(2)
Selecting cases and participants	41	(5)
Selecting cases	41	(2)
Selecting participants	43	(1)
How to select participants	44	(1)
How many participants to select	44	(2)
Ensuring rigour	46	(2)
Final comments	48	(1)
Key terms	49	(1)
Review questions	49	(1)
Suggested reading	49	(1)
Interviewing	50	(33)
Kevin Dunn
Chapter overview	51	(1)
Interviewing in geography	51	(2)
Types of interviewing	51	(1)
Strengths of interviewing	52	(1)
Interview design	53	(3)
The interview schedule or guide	54	(2)
Types of questions	56	(4)
Ordering questions and topics	58	(2)
Structured interviewing	60	(1)
Semi-structured interviewing	61	(1)
Unstructured interviewing	61	(3)
Oral history	62	(1)
Life history	63	(1)
Interviewing practice	64	(7)
Contact	65	(2)
The interview relation	67	(3)
Closing the interview	70	(1)
Recording and transcribing interviews	71	(5)
Recording	71	(2)
Transcribing the data	73	(2)
Assembling fieldnote files	75	(1)
Analysing interview data	76	(1)
Presenting interview data	77	(2)
Conclusion	79	(1)
Key terms	80	(1)
Review questions	80	(1)
Suggested reading	81	(2)
Focussing on the Focus Group	83	(20)
Jenny Cameron
Chapter overview	83	(1)
What are focus groups?	84	(2)
Using focus groups in geography	86	(3)
Planning and conducting focus groups	89	(8)
Selecting participants	89	(1)
Composition of focus groups	90	(1)
Size and number of groups	91	(1)
Recruiting participants	91	(1)
Questions and topics	92	(2)
Conducting focus groups	94	(3)
Analysing and presenting results	97	(3)
Conclusion	100	(1)
Key terms	101	(1)
Review questions	101	(1)
Suggested reading	102	(1)
Being There: Research through Observing and Participating	103	(19)
Robin Kearns
Chapter overview	104	(1)
Purposes of observation	104	(2)
Types of observation	106	(2)
Participant observation	108	(2)
Power, knowledge and observation	110	(2)
Stages of participant observation	112	(8)
Choice of setting	112	(2)
Access	114	(1)
Field relations	114	(2)
Talking and listening	116	(1)
Recording data	117	(1)
Analysis and presentation	118	(1)
Ethical obligations	118	(2)
Reflecting on the method	120	(1)
Key terms	121	(1)
Review questions	121	(1)
Suggested reading	121	(1)
Reading Texts and Writing Geography	122	(22)
Dean Forbes
Chapter overview	122	(1)
What are texts and textual analysis?	123	(1)
Approaches to reading texts	124	(5)
Content analysis	125	(1)
Reading landscapes	126	(1)
Semiotics and deconstruction	126	(3)
Reading texts: case studies	129	(2)
Reading the National Geographic	129	(2)
A postcolonial reading: Aboriginal people and the city	131	(7)
Representations in film	133	(3)
Urban symbols	136	(2)
Contextualising texts	138	(3)
Key terms	141	(1)
Review questions	142	(1)
Suggested reading	142	(2)
Computers, Qualitative Data and Geographic Research	144	(17)
Robin Peace
Chapter overview	145	(1)
Introduction	145	(2)
Sexy and chaotic	145	(1)
FAQs---Frequently Asked Questions	146	(1)
Who else is doing it?	146	(1)
Tool kit technology	147	(7)
What are CAQDA (Computer-Assisted Qualitative-Data Analysis) systems?	148	(2)
Reasons for using computers for qualitative research	150	(1)
Fast-tasking and upscaling	150	(1)
Versatility and interactivity	151	(2)
Different types of software	153	(1)
Strengths and weaknesses of CAQDA systems	154	(1)
Strengths	154	(1)
Weaknesses	154	(1)
Conclusion---future directions	155	(1)
Key terms	156	(1)
Review questions	156	(1)
Key internet resources	157	(2)
Finding out more about CAQDA	157	(1)
Finding out more about qualitative research	157	(1)
Finding out more about computers	158	(1)
Product pages for specific software packages	158	(1)
Electronic journals	159	(1)
Email discussion lists	159	(1)
Internet sites for geographers	159	(1)
Suggested reading	159	(2)
Writing In, Speaking Out: Communicating Qualitative Research Findings	161	(22)
Lawrence Berg
Juliana Mansvelt
Chapter overview	161	(1)
Styles of presentation	162	(6)
Positivist and neo-positivist approaches: universal objectivity	162	(4)
Post-positivist approaches: situated knowledges	166	(2)
Balancing description and interpretation---observation and theory	168	(12)
The role of `theory' and the constitution of `truth'	168	(2)
Writing and researching as mutually constitutive practices	170	(5)
Issues of validity and authenticity	175	(5)
Conclusion	180	(1)
Key terms	181	(1)
Review questions	181	(1)
Suggested reading	181	(2)
Glossary	183	(16)
References	199	(20)
Index	219