IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/sae/envira/v29y1997i5p771-787.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Software for Qualitative Research: 1. Prospectus and Overview

Author

Listed:
  • M A Crang

    (Department of Geography, Durham University, Science Laboratories, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, England)

  • A C Hudson

    (Department of Geography, Cambridge University, Downing Place, Cambridge CB2 3EN, England)

  • S M Reimer

    (School of Geography and Earth Resources, University of Hull, Cottingham Road, Hull HU6 7RX, England)

  • S J Hinchliffe

    (Department of Geography, Keele University, Keele, Staffs ST5 5BG, England)

Abstract

In recent years there has been growing interest in the use of computers within qualitative geography. In this paper we review the types of software packages that have been adopted and outline some of their distinctive features. We discuss the intellectual and institutional reasons for the interest in the software and highlight the ways in which such reasons have shaped the use made of these packages. We argue that only a contextual account of how packages are adopted, adapted, and used can explain the situation in geography. Furthermore we suggest that the archaeologies underlying the packages—their theoretical presuppositions—are remarkably homogeneous and need to be clearly understood before deciding how the packages might be used. We outline how some of these presuppositions have affected the ways in which the packages have been used, and develop—from our own experiences—some points about informal networks of adoption and institutional contexts. The point of this is to suggest the minimal role played by formal software guides and manuals in choosing whether and how to use a package. The paper outlines the current ‘state of play’ and raises issues of future use to be addressed in a second paper on this theme. Our intention is neither to sell a particular package, nor to say “to do X, use package Y†, because such recommendations are often misleading. Rather, our aim is to provoke discussion about the use of software packages in qualitative geography.

Suggested Citation

  • M A Crang & A C Hudson & S M Reimer & S J Hinchliffe, 1997. "Software for Qualitative Research: 1. Prospectus and Overview," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 29(5), pages 771-787, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envira:v:29:y:1997:i:5:p:771-787
    DOI: 10.1068/a290771
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1068/a290771
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1068/a290771?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. S Openshaw, 1991. "A View on the GIS Crisis in Geography, or, Using GIS to Put Humpty-Dumpty Back Together Again," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 23(5), pages 621-628, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. S Openshaw, 1993. "GIS ‘Crime’ and GIS ‘Criminality’," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 25(4), pages 451-458, April.
    2. Sarah A Elwood, 2002. "GIS Use in Community Planning: A Multidimensional Analysis of Empowerment," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 34(5), pages 905-922, May.
    3. R Flowerdew, 1998. "Reacting to Ground Truth," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 30(2), pages 289-301, February.
    4. N/A, 1991. "Commentaries," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 23(8), pages 1087-1094, August.
    5. Richard Harris & David O’Sullivan & Mark Gahegan & Martin Charlton & Lex Comber & Paul Longley & Chris Brunsdon & Nick Malleson & Alison Heppenstall & Alex Singleton & Daniel Arribas-Bel & Andy Evan, 2017. "More bark than bytes? Reflections on 21+ years of geocomputation," Environment and Planning B, , vol. 44(4), pages 598-617, July.
    6. Matthew W Wilson & Mark Graham, 2013. "Situating Neogeography," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 45(1), pages 3-9, January.
    7. Marianna Pavlovskaya, 2006. "Theorizing with GIS: A Tool for Critical Geographies?," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 38(11), pages 2003-2020, November.
    8. N/A, 1994. "Commentaries," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 26(4), pages 499-508, April.
    9. Mei-Po Kwan & LaDona Knigge, 2006. "Doing Qualitative Research Using GIS: An Oxymoronic Endeavor?," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 38(11), pages 1999-2002, November.
    10. D A Griffith & P R Pryde & N R Fyfe & S Warren & É Darier & J Rees & N AlSayyad & T Harvey & W Adams, 1997. "Reviews: Review Essay: Interactive Spatial Data Analysis, Environmental Security and Quality after Communism, Law, Space and the Geographies of Power, Ground Truth: The Social Implications of Geograph," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 29(4), pages 747-760, April.
    11. R J Johnston & N J Thrift, 1993. "Ringing the Changes: The Intellectual History of Environment and Planning A," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 25(1_suppl), pages 14-21, January.
    12. N J Thrift & R J Johnston, 1993. "The Futures of Environment and Planning A," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 25(1_suppl), pages 83-102, January.
    13. S Openshaw, 1998. "Towards a More Computationally Minded Scientific Human Geography," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 30(2), pages 317-332, February.
    14. P Williamson & M Birkin & P H Rees, 1998. "The Estimation of Population Microdata by Using Data from Small Area Statistics and Samples of Anonymised Records," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 30(5), pages 785-816, May.
    15. W A V Clark, 1993. "Applying our Understanding: Social Science in Government and the Marketplace," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 25(1_suppl), pages 38-47, January.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:sae:envira:v:29:y:1997:i:5:p:771-787. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: SAGE Publications (email available below). General contact details of provider: .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.