Concepts- Physical Geography tradition

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Ontology
A set of assumptions and theories that explore the nature of our world – a theoretical position that a researcher holds about the nature of existence.
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Epistemology
The philosophies of knowledge that a researcher embraces
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BOTH are related to the methods adopted by a
researcher in the pursuit of new knowledge
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Is there a ‘tradition’?
Significant change in ‘science’ through time
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3 distinct phases
Amateur’ science, Academic discipline Professional
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1. ‘Amateur’ science= Science in the drawing room
17th to 19th centuries Generally the preserve of doctors and clergymen ‘Facts Not Opinions’
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2. Academic disciplines= Science and the growth of universities
The 19th and early 20th centuries Expansion and funding The need to communicate Red Brick universities The emergence of academic disciplines, including a chair in Geography at Oxford
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3. When science became professional= The post war shift in focus
Mid 20th century to present Scientific agendas dominated by government, military and industry Britain – 1950s – ‘a new Elizabethan era’ Funding for science rocketed and this was reflected in the education system
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Factors to consider when deciding whether a scientiftific 'tradition' exist?
The purpose of science has evolved – a change in sociology Discoveries are intrinsically linked to the context in which science is undertaken Historiographic labelling – the impression of stepwise rather than gradual change
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Finding a single ‘tradition’ is
difficult and inappropriate
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Science = ‘
the systematic study of the structure and behaviour of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment’ Ox. Dict.)
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What it is or how it is done?
The introduction of method Problem recognition and problem solving Asking ‘well-posed’ questions Geographical research – phenomena in an unconstrained space, a variety of scales
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Internal and external instability
Changing scientific agendas – society Methods must change in response to scientific problems The interdependence of ontology and epistemology A temporary model – most appropriate approach for given time - Criticism, test and reformulation
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Theory –
how the world is structured and the way in which it works
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Observation –
human interaction with the world to determine structure and dynamics
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Both Geography and the physical sciences
share a wide range of practices and strategies (e.g. Problem solving)
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The only physical sciences ‘tradition’ is that of
plurality (diversity) of method (flexibility, innovation and power)
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Geographical research is most powerful when it supports a
pluralist ontological and epistemological tradition
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Epistemology

Back

The philosophies of knowledge that a researcher embraces

Card 3

Front

BOTH are related to the methods adopted by a

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Is there a ‘tradition’?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

3 distinct phases

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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