Qualitative GIS: combining theory and method

Stephen Burgess and Scott Orford

What is QGIS?

• New and developing approach to spatial research (early 2000s →)

• Response to critiques of GIS – Power relations; cost; supportive of value-free objectivity; Pickles’ Ground

Truth– Different to PPGIS

• Critical cartography as response to post-modern claims to knowledge (text discourse, institutionalisation of knowledge etc)

• Post-colonialism: knowledge claims and territory claims - who maps to claim it and how; tensions (e.g. indigenous v coloniser land use).

• North American focus for development but interest spreading elsewhere – Development of international methodological and empirical agenda?

What is QGIS?• QGIS is arguably a misnomer• Is a mixed-method approach (care not to confuse techniques with the method)

• Approach (not merely a collection of techniques)

• Approach is Mixed method “integrating multiple forms of knowledge” (Elwood & Cope, 2009)

– Repositioning of GIS away from a solely positivistic framework to employ multiple epistemologies

– Integration of quantitative (spatial) v qualitative (platial) data

• Cartesian v Non-Cartesian • Mixed methods and epistemological boundaries• Mapping the nonmeasurable and dynamic (processes, flows, time and history) • Combining data – visualization is key

• In other words

– GIS / Mapping as a representational practice not just a technology (critical cartography)– How represents, constitutes and communicates spatial knowledges

Parallels with QGIS: learning from elsewhere

(1) Critiquing cartography(2) Mapping qualitative data(3) Re-presenting space and place

• Critiquing cartography

– Surrealist map of the world– South-at-the top

Surrealist map of the world, 1929

Parallels with QGIS: learning from elsewhere

• Mapping qualitative data

– CAQDAS links with Google Earth (Graham Hughes)– The Island (Walter)– Greenwich emotion map– Salem Witch Trials

• Re-presenting space and place

– Neo-geography and VGI – Twitter (virtual space)

• Guardian Twitter World Cup – non cartographic representation of social networking

• UCL Twitter Maps – cartographic representation of social networking

QGIS: Examples from Wales

• QGIS, WISERD, data integration and mixed-methods• Projects that might help understand different mobilities in

urban and rural South Wales – Use of mental maps, conversation and Google Earth to

understand mobilities in South Wales Valleys town (previous study)

– GPS tracks to plot walkabout interviews (KLiC) – GPS tracks to plot urban patrols (KLiC)

• These highlight different affordances given to different methods used in different contexts

http://www.newtredegar.sadfad.com/NT_Big.htm

Walking tours – interview practice

Cars and walking

Urban Patrol data – spatial practice

Moving forward

Moving forward

• Moving forward– Beware of technology for its own sake – Further theoretical development

• WISERD data from KLiC Teams

Urban Patrol data – spatial practice

Qualitative GIS: exploring theory and method

The past few years have witnessed a cross-disciplinary growth of interest in the integration of qualitative and quantitative spatial data, particularly within a GIS environment. These embryonic interests may often bear different names, but their objectives are, ultimately, similar. In our own work, we refer to this as Qualitative GIS (QGIS). We suggest that there is a need to clarify what is meant by QGIS in order to forward an international agenda of method and study. In this paper, we will outline current work being undertaken within Qualitative GIS. We will discuss theoretical and methodological issues and begin to address substantive questions including the what, whys and hows of QGIS. By addressing these, we will have a better idea of what QGIS might look like.