Quantitative geography is a subfield and methodological approach to geography that develops, tests, and uses scientific, mathematical, and statistical methods to analyze and model geographic phenomena and patterns.[1][2][3] It aims to explain and predict the distribution and dynamics of human and physical geography through the collection and analysis of quantifiable data.[4] The approach quantitative geographers take is generally in line with the scientific method, where a falsifiable hypothesis is generated, and then tested through observational studies.[3][5][6][7] This has received criticism, and in recent years, quantitative geography has moved to include systematic model creation and understanding the limits of their models.[6][8][9] This approach is used to study a wide range of topics, including population demographics, urbanization, environmental patterns, and the spatial distribution of economic activity.[1] The methods of quantitative geography are often contrasted by those employed by qualitative geography, which is more focused on observing and recording characteristics of geographic place. However, there is increasing interest in using combinations of both qualitative and quantitative methods through mixed-methods research to better understand and contextualize geographic phenomena.[10]

History

Quantitative geography emerged in the mid-20th century as a response to the increasing demand for more systematic, empirical, and data-driven approaches to studying geographic phenomena.[6] It is a direct product of the quantitative revolution in geography.[1][11]

It was influenced by developments in statistics, mathematics, computer science, and the physical sciences.[12] Quantitative geographers sought to use mathematical and statistical methods to better understand patterns, relationships, and processes in the spatial distribution of human and physical phenomena.

Computers perhaps had the most profound impact on quantitative geography, with techniques such as map analysis, regression analysis, and spatial statistics to investigate various geographic questions.[1] In the 1950s and 1960s, advances in computer technology facilitated the application of quantitative methods in geography, leading to new techniques such as geographic information systems (GIS).[13][14] Notable early pioneers in GIS are Roger Tomlinson and Waldo Tobler.[12] Simultaneously, new data sources, such as remote sensing and GPS, were incorporated into geographic research.[15][16] These tools enabled geographers to collect, analyze, and visualize large amounts of spatial data in new ways, further advancing the field of quantitative geography.[1]

In the late 20th century, quantitative geography became a central discipline within geography, and its influence was felt in fields such as urban, economic, and environmental geography.[1] Within academia, groups such as the Royal Geographical Society Study Group in Quantitative Methods focused on spreading these methods to students and the public through publications such as the Concepts and Techniques in Modern Geography series.[17][18] Economics and spatial econometrics both served as a driving force and area of application for quantitative geography.[19]

Today, research in quantitative geography continues, focusing on using innovative quantitative methods and technologies to address complex geographic questions and problems.

Techniques and subfields

Quantitative revolution

This section is an excerpt from Quantitative revolution.[edit]
The quantitative revolution (QR)[lower-alpha 1] was a paradigm shift that sought to develop a more rigorous and systematic methodology for the discipline of geography. It came as a response to the inadequacy of regional geography to explain general spatial dynamics. The main claim for the quantitative revolution is that it led to a shift from a descriptive (idiographic) geography to an empirical law-making (nomothetic) geography.[20][21] The quantitative revolution occurred during the 1950s and 1960s and marked a rapid change in the method behind geographical research, from regional geography into a spatial science.[22][23]

Laws of geography

Waldo Tobler in front of the Newberry Library. Chicago, November 2007

The concept of laws in geography is a product of the quantitative revolution and is a central focus of quantitative geography.[24] Their emergence is highly influential and one of the major contributions of quantitative geography to the broader branch of technical geography.[25] The discipline of geography is unlikely to settle the matter anytime soon. Several laws have been proposed, and Tobler's first law of geography is the most widely accepted. The first law of geography, and its relation to spatial autocorrelation, is highly influential in the development of technical geography.[25]

Some have argued that geographic laws do not need to be numbered. The existence of a first invites a second, and many are proposed as that. It has also been proposed that Tobler's first law of geography should be moved to the second and replaced with another.[26] A few of the proposed laws of geography are below:

  • Tobler's first law of geography: "Everything is related to everything else, but near things are more related than distant"[13][27][26]
  • Tobler's second law of geography: "The phenomenon external to a geographic area of interest affects what goes on inside."[27]
  • Arbia's law of geography: "Everything is related to everything else, but things observed at a coarse spatial resolution are more related than things observed at a finer resolution."[27][28][29]
  • Uncertainty principle: "that the geographic world is infinitely complex and that any representation must therefore contain elements of uncertainty, that many definitions used in acquiring geographic data contain elements of vagueness, and that it is impossible to measure location on the Earth's surface exactly."[26]

Criticism


Critical geography presents critiques against the positivist approach adopted in quantitative geography. One of the primary criticisms is reductionism, contending that the emphasis on quantifying data and utilizing mathematical models tends to oversimplify the intricate nature of social and spatial phenomena.[3] Another vital concern revolves around the lack of context, where proponents argue that quantitative methods may disregard the unique cultural and historical contexts of specific geographical locations.

Moreover, a key point of contention lies in the dependence on technology; quantitative geography heavily relies on digital mapping tools and technology, which can restrict its capacity to address certain complex geographical issues. A further criticism relates to bias in data collection methods, as they can introduce partiality into the analysis, often influenced by existing power structures that shape the types of data collected and analyzed.

Quantitative geography is also criticized for its limited scope, primarily focusing on spatial data while potentially overlooking critical dimensions of human geographies such as culture, politics, and social relations. Lastly, critics emphasize the absence of a critical perspective within this approach, arguing that the unwavering focus on objective and empirical data analysis can divert attention from vital social and political questions, hindering a holistic understanding of geographical issues. These criticisms collectively highlight the need for a more nuanced and context-aware approach in the field of geography.

Influential geographers

See also

Notes

    1. ↑ During the 1940s–1970s, it was customary to capitalize generalized concept names, especially in philosophy ("Truth, Kindness, Beauty"), plus using capital letters when naming ideologies, movements, or schools of thought. Example: "the Automobile" as a concept, versus "the automobile in a garage"

    References

    1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Fotheringham, A. Stewart; Brunsdon, Chris; Charlton, Martin (2000). Quantitative Geography: Perspectives on Spatial Data Analysis. Sage Publications Ltd. ISBN 978-0-7619-5948-9.
    2. ↑ Murakami, Daisuke; Yamagata, Yoshiki (2020). "Chapter Six - Models in quantitative geography". Spatial Analysis Using Big Data: Chapter Six - Models in quantitative geography. pp. 159–178. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-813127-5.00006-0. ISBN 9780128131275. S2CID 213700891. Retrieved 3 February 2023. {{cite book}}: |journal= ignored (help)
    3. 1 2 3 Yano, Keiji (2001). "GIS and quantitative geography". GeoJournal. 52 (3): 173–180. doi:10.1023/A:1014252827646. S2CID 126943446.
    4. ↑ Taylor, Peter J. (1977). Quantitative Methods in Geography: An introduction to Spatial Analysis. Prospect Heights, Illinois: Waveland Press, inc. ISBN 0-88133-072-8.
    5. ↑ DeLyser, Dydia; Herbert, Steve; Aitken, Stuart; Crang, Mike; McDowell, Linda (November 2009). The SAGE Handbook of Qualitative Geography (1 ed.). SAGE Publications. ISBN 9781412919913. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
    6. 1 2 3 Murray, Alan T. (February 2010). "Quantitative Geography". Journal of Regional Science. 50 (1): 143–163. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9787.2009.00642.x. S2CID 127919804. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
    7. ↑ Li, Xin; Zheng, Donghai; Feng, Min; Chen, Fahu (November 2021). "Information geography: The information revolution reshapes geography". Science China Earth Sciences. 65 (2). doi:10.1007/s11430-021-9857-5.
    8. ↑ Franklin, Rachel (2022). "Quantitative methods I: Reckoning with uncertainty". Progress in Human Geography. 46 (2): 689–697. doi:10.1177/03091325211063635. S2CID 246032475.
    9. ↑ Franklin, Rachel (February 2023). "Quantitative methods II: Big theory". Progress in Human Geography. 47 (1): 178–186. doi:10.1177/03091325221137334. S2CID 255118819.
    10. ↑ Diriwächter, R. & Valsiner, J. (January 2006) Qualitative Developmental Research Methods in Their Historical and Epistemological Contexts. FQS. Vol 7, No. 1, Art. 8
    11. ↑ Haggett, Peter (16 July 2008). "The Local Shape of Revolution: Reflections on Quantitative Geography at Cambridge in the 1950s and 1960s". Geographical Analysis. 40 (3): 336–352. doi:10.1111/j.1538-4632.2008.00731.x. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
    12. 1 2 Ferreira, Daniela; Vale, Mário (5 Oct 2020). "Geography in the Big Data Age: An Overview of the Historical Resonance of Current Debates". Geographical Review. 112 (2): 250–266. doi:10.1080/00167428.2020.1832424. hdl:10451/44565. S2CID 225166250. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
    13. 1 2 Tobler, Waldo (1959). "Automation and Cartography". Geographical Review. 49 (4): 526–534. doi:10.2307/212211. JSTOR 212211. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
    14. ↑ "The 50th Anniversary of GIS". ESRI. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
    15. ↑ Hegarty, Christopher J.; Chatre, Eric (December 2008). "Evolution of the Global Navigation satellite system (GNSS)". Proceedings of the IEEE. 96 (12): 1902–1917. doi:10.1109/JPROC.2008.2006090. S2CID 838848.
    16. ↑ Jensen, John (2016). Introductory digital image processing: a remote sensing perspective. Glenview, IL: Pearson Education, Inc. p. 623. ISBN 978-0-13-405816-0.
    17. ↑ Webber, M J (1980). "Literature for teaching quantitative geography: technique by, for, but not of geographers". Environment and Planning A. 12 (9): 1083–1090. doi:10.1068/a121083.
    18. ↑ Hall, Tim (2019). "Reflecting on resources". Journal of Geography in Higher Education. 43 (1): 1–6. doi:10.1080/03098265.2019.1570091.
    19. ↑ Martinez-Galarraga, Julio; Silvestre, Javier; Tirado-Fabregat, Daniel A. (24 August 2023). "Quantitative Economic Geography and Economic History". In Diebolt, Claude; Haupert, Michael (eds.). Handbook of Cliometrics. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer. ISBN 978-3-642-40458-0. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
    20. ↑ DeLyser, Dydia; Herbert, Steve; Aitken, Stuart; Crang, Mike; McDowell, Linda (November 2009). The SAGE Handbook of Qualitative Geography (1 ed.). SAGE Publications. ISBN 9781412919913. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
    21. ↑ Yano, Keiji (2001). "GIS and quantitative geography". GeoJournal. 52 (3): 173–180. doi:10.1023/A:1014252827646. S2CID 126943446.
    22. ↑ "The 'Quantitative Revolution': hard science or "inconsequential claptrap"?". University of Aberdeen. GG3012(NS) Lecture 4. 2011. Archived from the original on 24 February 2015. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
    23. ↑ Gregory, Derek; Johnston, Ron; Pratt, Geraldine; Watts, Michael J.; Whatmore, Sarah (2009). The Dictionary of Human Geography (5th ed.). US & UK: Wiley-Blackwell. pp. 611–12.
    24. ↑ Walker, Robert Toovey (28 Apr 2021). "Geography, Von Thünen, and Tobler's first law: Tracing the evolution of a concept". Geographical Review. 112 (4): 591–607. doi:10.1080/00167428.2021.1906670. S2CID 233620037.
    25. 1 2 Haidu, Ionel (2016). "What is Technical Geography – a letter from the editor". Geographia Technica. 11: 1–5. doi:10.21163/GT_2016.111.01.
    26. 1 2 3 Goodchild, Michael (2004). "The Validity and Usefulness of Laws in Geographic Information Science and Geography". Annals of the Association of American Geographers. 94 (2): 300–303. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8306.2004.09402008.x. S2CID 17912938.
    27. 1 2 3 Tobler, Waldo (2004). "On the First Law of Geography: A Reply". Annals of the Association of American Geographers. 94 (2): 304–310. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8306.2004.09402009.x. S2CID 33201684. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
    28. ↑ Arbia, Giuseppe; Benedetti, R.; Espa, G. (1996). ""Effects of MAUP on image classification"". Journal of Geographical Systems. 3: 123–141.
    29. ↑ Smith, Peter (2005). "The laws of geography". Teaching Geography. 30 (3): 150.
    30. ↑ Jackson, Michael C (2000). Systems approaches to management. Springer Science & Business Media. doi:10.1007/b100327. ISBN 0-306-46500-0.
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