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Theory and methods in spatial analysis: towards integrating qualitative, quantitative and cartographic approaches in the social sciences and humanities
Theorie und Methode der Raumanalyse: ein Vorschlag zur Integration qualitativer, quantitativer und kartographischer Ansätze in den Sozial- und Geisteswissenschaften
[journal article]
Abstract A main obstacle for integrating the methodological debates on spatial analysis in diverse social sciences and humanities (such as Sociology, Geography, History and Cultural Studies) is the lack of a common definition of research goals and theories of space. Starting from the discussion on absolute a... view more
A main obstacle for integrating the methodological debates on spatial analysis in diverse social sciences and humanities (such as Sociology, Geography, History and Cultural Studies) is the lack of a common definition of research goals and theories of space. Starting from the discussion on absolute and relational space concepts as well as the observation that space is a multi-level-phenomenon consisting of different spatial layers which interact with time layers, the authors argue that all spatial problems can be categorized into one of five dimensions: (1) Thinking and Imagining Space; (2) Creating and Changing Space; (3) Experiencing, Appropriating and Orientating within Space; (4) (Inter)Action and Distribution within Space; and (5) Relations and Movements between Spaces. The authors discuss the contribution of various qualitative approaches (e.g. ethnography, case studies and discourse analysis), quantitative approaches (e.g. surveys, public administrational data and GIS) and cartographic approaches for analysing these dimensions and conclude with open questions for future research.... view less
Keywords
zone; quantitative method; analysis; ethnography; social area analysis; methodology; social science; case study; qualitative method; method; research approach; theory; humanities; cartography
Classification
Research Design
Area Development Planning, Regional Research
Method
development of methods; basic research
Free Keywords
spatial analysis; survey methodology; maps; GIS
Document language
English
Publication Year
2014
Page/Pages
p. 7-50
Journal
Historical Social Research, 39 (2014) 2
Issue topic
Spatial analysis
DOI
https://doi.org/10.12759/hsr.39.2014.2.7-50
ISSN
0172-6404
Status
Published Version; peer reviewed