Relevant websites
Chapter 3
Research design
In this chapter, you will explore the different purposes of research. You will learn two different approaches to social research design: the deductive approach, which is underlain by the traditional scientific method, and the inductive approach, which is driven by the notion of grounded theory. You will learn a step-by-step process for designing spatial research using either a deductive or inductive approach. You will also learn key research concepts such as baseline data.
Learning objectives
Key concepts
baseline data
conceptual model
deductive research
explanatory studies
exploratory research
ground truthing
grounded theory
hypothesis
inductive research
literature review
operationalization
theory
triangulation
units of analysis
What is the purpose of your research?
Research can have a variety of purposes. When doing applied research, you may often conduct descriptive research that shows the current state of things. Two additional purposes of research are to explore data and to attempt to explain why things are the way they are. Of course, the practical goal of many research projects is to solve a specific problem or suggest alternatives. A GIS is an excellent tool for all of these research goals, especially in situations where data from a variety of sources must be brought together. With the speed and analytical power of a GIS, it becomes feasible to explore many more analysis options and characteristics of data than might be initially expected.
Descriptive research
In a descriptive study, the main goal of research is to catalog and observe data. A descriptive study is useful for increasing understanding about something. An example of a descriptive study using GIS might be to look at the number and geographic distribution of ethnic populations in an urban area such as New York City. The goal of such a study might be to determine spatially where these different ethnic groups are located, and why (e.g., people of Italian descent are located in Little Italy, and a majority of those of Haitian descent reside in Brooklyn). Why would a researcher want to take this approach? The value of a descriptive study is that it provides detailed information that could be used as baseline data. Baseline data include any information used to establish a primary picture or understanding of the situation under study. Figure 3.1 presents an example of baseline data related to regional wildfires.
Figure 3.1 This map of North American fire regimes shows the typical period of return for wildfire. Such a dataset could be used as a baseline dataset for studies assessing changes to the frequency of fire in different regions owing either to natural or manufactured impacts to the landscape. US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station.
Descriptive research, by nature, is informational and is often used to make policy decisions, provide services, analyze crime, track diseases, or answer a wide variety of other research-related questions. For example, by tracking the occurrences of cases of West Nile virus in each county in the country using GIS, you could determine where the virus is becoming a problem, how it is moving, and when it is likely to hit next. Using this information, you could alert local public health agencies, take action to reduce mosquitoes in at-risk locations, and develop appropriate policies for treating and preventing further spread of the disease. Figure 3.2 presents a spatial perspective of West Nile virus locations based on mosquito carriers that have been tracked and recorded. Such analysis leads to a better understanding of potential