GIS Research Methods: Incorporating Spatial Perspectives

Cover
Contents
Preface
Acknowledgments
About the authors
1.	Why think spatially?
	Using spatial knowledge
	What is GIS?
	A new approach to research methods
	The spatial advantage for research
	Spatial analysis
	Spatial thinking in research
	Multiple research methods approach
	Sociospatial thinking
	GIS as a useful tool
2. Spatial conceptualization and implementation
	The G in GIS
	The I in GIS
	The S in GIS
	Conceptual data model: Incorporating GIS
	Analytical approach: Phases of abstraction
	Determining project goals
	Guiding questions
	Steps in the research process
	Moving forward
3. Research design
	What is the purpose of your research?
	Deductive versus inductive approach to research
	Stages of sociospatial research for deductive research
	Grounded theory: GIS using an inductive approach
	Sociospatial grounded theory using GIS
4.	Research ethics and spatial inquiry
	Research ethics and GIS
	Errors caused by analysis
	Errors in human inquiry
	Ecological fallacy
	Ethics and data collection
	Ethics and data sharing
	Ethics and data storage
5.	Measurement, sampling, and boundaries
	Moving beyond your personal experience
	Choosing a sampling method for your spatial analysis
	Concepts, variables, and attributes
	Different data types: Matching geographic and social variables
	Data sampling and GIS
	Study area and sample unit boundaries
6.	Using secondary digital and nondigital data sources in research
	Evaluating data sources
	Searching for secondary data
	Evaluating data suitability
	Obtaining GIS data from the Internet
	Choosing GIS variables
	Validity and reliability
	Obtaining data from offline sources
	Using news as a source of data
7.	Survey and interview spatial data collection and databases
	Developing your own data
	Spatializing your survey or interview questions
	Using GIS in the field, with and without a computer
	Data collection considerations
	Unit of analysis
	Database concepts and GIS
	Rules for GIS database development
	Creating GIS-friendly data tables
8.	Public participation GIS
	Public participation GIS and participatory GIS
	Using public participation GIS as part of mixed methods
	Does using GIS mean I have to be “high-tech” in the field?
	Volunteered geographic information
	Maps of your research area
	Qualitative data and GIS files
	Conducting a PPGIS data collection
	Preparing for your own PPGIS session
9. Qualitative spatial ethnographic field research
	Sociospatial documentation
	Integrating GIS into field research
	Ethnography
	Case study research
	Oral history interviews
	Participant observation
	Data cataloging
10.	Evaluation research from a spatial perspective
	What is evaluation research?
	Why do evaluation research?
	Sociospatial evaluation research
	Presenting the spatial evaluation
	The challenges and benefits of evaluation research
11. Conducting analysis with ArcGIS software
	Approaching the analysis
	Analysis techniques
	Cartographic classification
	Buffer and overlay
	Spatial interpolation and simulation
	Modeling
	When to use GIS as a problem-solving tool
	Potential pitfalls
	Spatial statistics
	ArcGIS Spatial Analyst
12.	Spatial analysis of qualitative data
	Qualitative data and GIS
	What are qualitative data?
	Spatial qualitative analysis
	Steps for spatial qualitative analysis
13.	Communicating results and visualizing spatial information
	Keys to effective communication
	GIS output
	Selecting the mode of communication
	Preparing the final product
	Conclusion
14.	Linking results to policy and action
	GIS and visualizing policy
	What is policy?
	Challenges to creating good policy
	A fire example
	Coordinating data
	Decision support systems
	From maps to action
	How to create good place-based policy
	Final thoughts
15.	Future directions for geospatial use
	Imagine the future
	Geospatial agility
	Image versus data
	A rebirth of spatial awareness
	GIS is an art form
	GIS as change technology
	The role of geospatial crowdsourcing
	New directions for GIS-based research
	Parting thoughts
	Suggestions for student research projects
Index
Back cover