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UWSP Geo Dept

UWSP Campus

490 TOPICS - Spring 2005

[BACK]

It is essential in this course that you investigate a "Geographic Problem".  The mystery and frustration of this requirement lies in just what "geographic problem" really means, and it may be discouraging to learn that every geographer has their own personal definition of not only a "problem", but also of "geography".

As the instructor of your 490 class, be aware of my criteria--but know also that mine is not THE definition.   Nonetheless, it will color my evaluation of your work.

First, geography is the study of location, either as site ("specific place") or as situation ("spatial circumstances of occurrence").  Your 490 project must focus on one or both of these characteristics.

Secondly, almost all geography research evaluates three questions, although the emphases may vary:

1. Where does it occur?

2. Why is it there?

3. What does this mean [to us humans]?

Thirdly, geographic research typically addresses  five basic characteristics of location, although the investigative weight may vary between them.  They are:

1. PHENOMENON - the "what", or "it"

2. PLACE - the "where?"

3. PATTERN - the "arrangement" of multiple occurrences

4. PROCESS - the characteristic "sequence" of development events

5. PERCEPTION - the way humans "regard" the location of things.

A "problem" is simply some question that is resolvable by using certain forms of information to reason out a specific kind of answer.  Think of it as a riddle, or a  mystery.  You (Sherlock) must recognize what sort of answer is necessary (a person?), discern relevant clues (a footprint in the garage, but not the one in the garden), and synthesize a solution (the butler did it).

I bet you didn't know that Agatha Christy and Arthur Conan Doyle both taught science!  [Actually, they didn't, but they'd have been good at it, I think.]  Or that a rather famous scientist admittedly borrowed the detective story technique for his own research...

"The scientific investigator, like the detective, follows clews which suggest solutions to the problem at hand. The solutions are tested and rejected, and new clews are found for the scientist/ detective to follow. Often seemingly perfect theories have to be discarded as new evidence comes to light. Over time, more and more of the picture emerges and the scientist can make better and better guesses about what is important to include and what is unimportant"

-- Albert Einstein, 1938

So just what constitutes a "geographic problem"?  In my opinion, it is anything that attempts to answer the question, "What explains the location and arrangement of [x], and why is that location significant?"   [BACK]

• Once you have committed to a team responding to one of these questions, you may NOT reverse your decision. 

• Consider carefully your interest, training, and ability to contribute as you select one of these collaborative projects.  YOU MAY NOT JOIN ANY PROJECT FOR WHICH YOU LACK THE PREREQUISITE COURSE WORK.

• Remain considerate of your teammates as you jointly conduct and report the outcomes of your project.  This contributes toward the professionalism portion of your grade.

• YOU are the ones conducting the research.  Do not ask the instructor "What do you want us to do?"; that decision is YOUR responsibility.  So also is the selection and proper use of methods, compilation of results, interpretation of findings, and communication of outcomes.  The faculty are not to do this for you; your project is a demonstration of your professional skills, not theirs.