Qualitative GIS

A Mixed Methods Approach

Meghan Cope editor Sarah Elwood editor

Format:Hardback

Publisher:SAGE Publications Inc

Published:9th Jul '09

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

This hardback is available in another edition too:

Qualitative GIS cover

Geographic Information Systems are an essential tool for analyzing and representing quantitative spatial data. Qualitative GIS explains the recent integration of qualitative research with Geographical Information Systems

With a detailed contextualising introduction, the text is organised in three sections:

Representation: examines how researchers are using GIS to create new types of representations; working with spatial data, maps, and othervisualizations to incorporate multiple meanings and to provide texture and context.

Analysis: discusses the new techniques of analysis that are emerging at the margins between qualitative research and GIS, this in the wider context of a critical review of mixed-methods in geographical research

Theory: questions how knowledge is produced, showing how ideas of ′science′ and ′truth′ inform research, and demonstrates how qualitative GIS can be used to interrogate discussions of power, community, and social action

Making reference to representation, analysis, and theory throughout, the text shows how to frame questions, collect data, analyze results, and represent findings in a truly integrated way. An important addition to the mixed methods literature, Qualitative GIS will be the standard reference for upper-level students and researchers using qualitative methods and Geographic Information Systems.

′An important and meaningful, even an innovative, resource in its field of inquiry. It makes a major contribution to geography by describing, presenting and analyzing the way in which qualitative information may be included in geographic information systems. GIS technology in general is not merely a tool for processing quantitative or qualitative spatial data. Qualitative GIS in particular constitutes a knowledge base with philosophical (ontological and epistemological) foundations. The incorporation of qualitative methods into GIS produces a whole that is "greater than the sum of its parts". Moreover, the book contributes to our understanding of the process in the social sciences by giving a visual presentation of social and spatial phenomena, and thus its contribution goes beyond the geographic discipline′ -
Geography Research Forum

′Qualitative GIS is coming of age, and this definitive collection explains why it deserves broad attention. These carefully selected essays by leading researchers, organized around a broad conception of qualitative GIS that extends beyond multi-media data integration to embrace new software tools and interpretive, situated epistemologies, will push readers to rethink not only their preconceptions about qualitative GIS, but also about GI science and critical GIS. GIS researchers, practicioners, observers and users will find much to chew on here′ - Professor Eric Sheppard, University of Minnesota, USA


Great that a handy text on this emerging yet still dynamic area of GIS is now available. Students will benefit from the synthesis it provides. -- Dr ALISTAIR GEDDES * drupal *
Great book that brings together ideas and research that explores the relatively new area of qualitative GIS. I will recommend this for our Masters Research Methods students. -- Dr Julie Urquhart * drupal *
A brilliant companion for navigating the emerging field of qualitative GIS. The book guides readers through aspects of performing mixed-method research using GIS, including methodological framework, techniques, geovisualisation, and why it is necessary for research. -- Dr Kristofer Chan * drupal *
The book is the first collection of papers about qualitative GIS. While there are several special issues of journals and some papers that are spread across the literature, it is very useful to have one source that can be used as a starting point. As there are more and more students who are interested in integration of text, images and video with GIS, this book is helpful for postgraduate students. -- Dr Muki Haklay * drupal *
An excellent resource for teaching, but essentially supplementary material for interested students. Well researched, practical and crosses different solutions and methods for implementing GIS projects with a qualitative approach. This book is useful for existing projects and in building a research constituency for our undergraduate students. -- Dr Tavis Potts * drupal *
An excellent resource for our research. Well researched, practical and crosses different solutions and methods for implementing GIS projects with a qualitative approach. This book is useful for supporting several existing projects using GIS, particularly in our field of natural resource management and sustainability. The text will support building a research constituency for our postgraduate and undergraduate students around innovative use of GIS platforms. -- Dr Tavis Potts * drupal *
The book is too much a collection of articles in order to help my students to use quantitative and qualitative geo data in their projects -- Mr Marinus De Bakker * drupal *
It is about the only book dealing with this topic! The papers selected for this book are relevant for some discussions in my seminar class. -- Professor Gaurav Sinha * drupal *
I made a mistake in the uploading the review -- Professor Massimo De Marchi * drupal *
The 27 chapters of the book allow a two way exploration of the challenging issues related to GIS and Society. The longitudinal path give an account how GIS in fifty years moved from the computational management of geographic information performed into specialized scientific, business, military institutions to a widespread into public and private sectors and civil society, especially in the last two decades. Then the cross sectional path allows an exploration of the interconnected issues related to the role of geographic information and technologies in society. Starting from the interplay among technology and society and the GIS in the context of technological revolution, the Handbook accompanies the reader in a series of compelling encounters with key topics: change in technologies, alternative representations, spatial data infrastructures, participatory GIS, justice and ethics, exploring also future issues and challenges. The Handbook of GIS and Society, is a key resource as course book, but it is also a tool for professional life and a research companion about many issues related to social dimension of GIS. -- Professor Massimo De Marchi * drupal *
The book edited by Megan Cope and Sarah Elwood presents ten contributions investigating a cluster of issues related to qualitative GIS. From the title a mixed methods approach constitutes the key thread for the exploration of topics and relations. Despite its quantitative origin embedded in some fixities GIS is permeable by qualitative data and qualitative interpretations facilitating the integration of different social actors perspective in a negotiation of alternative truths. GIS tools beyond their structured organization offer a wide array of opportunities to discuss multiple layered representations, to question issues of identity, power, situated knowledge. Qualitative GIS and mixed method approach is also a way to investigate inside geographical sciences and social construction of space. This Quantitative and qualitative researchers and practitioners can find many contribution for reflections and every day spatial practices. -- Professor Massimo De Marchi * drupal *
It is not appropriate book to meet the course description -- Professor Mijeong Noh * drupal *
This book is a wonderful resource for any researcher who wishes to engage in including geographical data into their research agenda.

The book is packed full of very good articles on the "how to" of conducting geographical research and contains a wide variety of tips for analyzing GIS data.
I am on sabbatical next year but would definitely like to consider this book for adoption in my qualitative course the following year! -- Sharlene Hesse-Biber * drupal *

ISBN: 9781412945653

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: 510g

192 pages