G235: Introduction to Geographic Methods  
Spring 2003
Instructor:   Dr. Scott Robeson                           Office: Student Building 212
E-mail:         srobeson@indiana.edu                     Phone: 855-7722
Time/Place: MW 2:30-3:45 in GY 447           Office hours: T 1-3 or by appointment
Objectives:
By taking this course, you will develop (or further develop):
  • knowledge of the principal paradigms used in physical and human geography
  • critical reading, thinking, and writing skills
  • familiarity with general research issues in geography
  • familiarity with the fundamental methods used by geographers, including
    • cartography
    • remote sensing
    • measurements and data collection
    • statistics/data analysis
    • geographic information systems
Course Structure: The twice-weekly meetings in the lecture room will be augmented with meetings in computer labs, the Geography and Map Library, and outside field exercises. Most topics will be accompanied by a practical assignment/exercise such as short writing assignments, analyzing maps or air photos, or using software to graph, analyze, or map data. A final project and a summary paper will take the place of a final exam. 
Texts:
(1)  Campbell (2000). Map Use and Analysis. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 4th Edition.
(2)  G235 Reader, avail. from Collegiate Copies, 1434 E. Third St., Bloomington. Shelf 215
Grading:
Exercises 75%
Course Summary Paper 25%
Exercises are based on course topics and are handed out throughout the semester. The course summary paper is in lieu of a final exam and reviews all of the material that we have covered. You will incorporate examples of geographic data, methods, and research into this paper. It also provides an opportunity for an individualized account of your experience in this course. 
Policies: Exercises will typically be due one week after they are assigned. Late exercises will have 10% deducted per day. You may discuss the exercises with others in the class, but what you hand in must be your own work. The course summary paper is due by noon on Tuesday December 11.
Essentials: You must attend class and stay up-to-date on the readings and assignments. I strongly recommend that you routinely review your notes and course materials. See me (or send e-mail) when you have questions. 

Course Outline
 
Topic Readings Exercise
Nature, history, and scope of Geography G235 Reader:
Wolman (1992) Contemporary value of Geog. 
Thrift (1992) Apocalypse soon 
Livingstone (1992) A brief history of Geog.		 1
Research and paradigms within Geography G235 Reader: 
Kennedy (1992) Research designs
Holt-Jensen (1999) Positivism and its critics		 2
Geographic data, systems, and modeling Campbell:
Chapter 11
G235 Reader:
Willmott and Gaile (1992) Modeling
Maps and mapping Campbell:
Chapters 1-6, 9, 14, 16, Appendices A, D
G235 Reader: 
Greenhood (1964) Basic maps upon the ground		 3,4
Sampling in space and time G235 Reader:
Leedy (1989) The descriptive survey study		 5
Questionnaires and structured interviews G235 Reader:
Leedy (1989) The descriptive survey study		 6
Measurements 7
Air photo interpretation Campbell:
Chapter 17
G235 Reader:
Avery and Berlin (1992) Principles of photogrammetry		 8
Satellite image interpretation  Campbell:
Chapter 18
G235 Reader:
Avery and Berlin (1992) Overview of remote sensing		 9
Statistical graphics Campbell:
Chapter 15
Simple statistics  G235 Reader:
Runyon & Haber (1991) Measures of central tendency
Runyon & Haber (1991) Measures of dispersion		 10,11
Simple spatial statistics G235 Reader:
Burt and Barber (1996) Descriptive statistics for spatial distributions		 12
Introduction to GIS Campbell:
Chapters 19, 21
Review; Examples of geographic research projects 

References for G235 Reader

(in order of assignment)

Wolman, M.G. (1992) "The Contemporary Value of Geography: Applied Physical Geography and the Environmental Sciences", in A. Rodgers, Viles, H. and Goudie, A. (eds) The Student's Companion to Geography. Blackwell, Oxford, pp. 3-7.
Thrift, N. (1992) "Apocalypse Soon, or Why Human Geography is Worth Doing?", in A. Rodgers, H. Viles, and A. Goudie (eds) The Student's Companion to Geography. Blackwell, Oxford, pp. 8-12.
Livingstone, D. N. (1992) "A Brief History of Geography", in A. Rodgers, H. Viles, and A. Goudie (eds) The Student's Companion to Geography. Blackwell, Oxford, pp. 27-35.
Kennedy B.A. (1992) "First Catch Your Hare …. Research Designs for Individual Projects", in A. Rodgers, H. Viles, and A. Goudie, The Student's Companion to Geography. Blackwell, Oxford, pp. 128-134.
Holt-Jensen, A. (1999). Geography History and Concepts: A Student's Guide, 3rd ed. Sage, London.
Willmott, C.J. and G. L. Gaile (1992) "Modeling", in R.F. Abler, M.G. Marcus and J.M. Olson (eds) Geography's Inner Worlds. Rutgers University Press, New Brunswick, N.J., pp. 163-186. 
Greenhood, D. (1964) Mapping. University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
Leedy, Paul D. (1989) Practical Research - Planning and Design. MacMillan, New York.
Avery, T. and G. Berlin (1992) Fundamentals of Remote Sensing and Airphoto Interpretation, 5th ed. Macmillan, New York.
Runyon, R. and A. Haber (1991) Fundamentals of Behavioral Statistics. McGraw Hill, New York.
Burt, J. E. and G. G. Barber (1996) Elementary Statistics for Geographers, 2nd edition. Guilford Press, New York.