Researching Human Geography

by Hoggart, Keith; Lees, Loretta; Davies, Anna

• ISBN13: 9780340676745
• ISBN10: 0340676744
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2002-01-03
• Publisher: Hodder Education Publishers

Summary

This new text offers something different from the many "methods books" available. It presents the vast array of research methodologies available to those undertaking research on the topic, illustrating the principles, strengths, and weaknesses of all approaches. The book also demonstrates how individual philosophical approaches to research impose different preferences for research methodologies.

Table of Contents

Preface	v
Method and methodology in human geography	1	(39)
Scientific methodologies	4	(18)
Hermeneutics and interpretative human geography	22	(11)
Beyond representation	33	(2)
The politics of research	35	(5)
Research design	40	(35)
Problem identification	42	(7)
Getting started	49	(16)
Multi-method and multi-level analysis	65	(8)
Designing a project	73	(2)
By the book? Using published data	75	(44)
What else are we going to use?	79	(13)
Then why be cautious?	92	(19)
Can we improve on limitations?	111	(4)
Appreciating the balance	115	(4)
Behind the scenes: archives and documentary records	119	(50)
What types of documentary sources?	125	(9)
Problems of coverage	134	(4)
Getting down to it	138	(9)
Extracting messages	147	(19)
Message and sources	166	(3)
Superficial encounters: social survey methods	169	(32)
But are surveys valid?	173	(2)
Types of surveys	175	(5)
What is a pilot study?	180	(3)
The informants	183	(6)
The information	189	(9)
Limitations on strengths	198	(3)
Close encounters: interviews and focus groups	201	(50)
Intensive interviews	204	(9)
Focus groups	213	(6)
Themes and concepts	219	(29)
Concluding remarks	248	(3)
Part of life: research as lived experience	251	(51)
The tradition of participant observation research	253	(6)
Towards a critical ethnography	259	(7)
Approaching `the field'	266	(9)
Data collection	275	(13)
Action Research	288	(4)
New field sites for ethnographers	292	(3)
Analysing data collected from participant observation	295	(7)
Postscript: multi-layered conundrums	302	(5)
Glossary	307	(6)
References	313	(40)
Index	353