Qualitative Research Methods in Human Geography,9780195507874

Qualitative Research Methods in Human Geography

by
ISBN13: 9780195507874
ISBN10: 0195507878
Format: Paperback
Pub. Date: 2001-05-31
Publisher(s): Oxford University Press
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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

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