Research Methods for Environmental Studies: A Social Science Approach

✍ Scribed by Mark Kanazawa

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2017
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 395
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

The methodological needs of environmental studies are unique in the breadth of research questions that can be posed, calling for a textbook that covers a broad swath of approaches to conducting research with potentially many different kinds of evidence.

Written specifically for social science-based research into the environment, this book covers the best-practice research methods most commonly used to study the environment and its connections to societal and economic activities and objectives. Over five key parts, Kanazawa introduces quantitative and qualitative approaches, mixed methods, and the special requirements of interdisciplinary research, emphasizing that methodological practice should be tailored to the specific needs of the project. Within these parts, detailed coverage is provided on key topics including the identification of a research project; spatial analysis; ethnography approaches; interview technique; and ethical issues in environmental research.

Drawing on a variety of extended examples to encourage problem-based learning and fully addressing the challenges associated with interdisciplinary investigation, this book will be an essential resource for students embarking on courses exploring research methods in environmental studies.

✦ Table of Contents

Cover
Half Title
Endoresment
Title Page
Copyright Page
Table of Contents
List of figures
List of tables
List of boxes
Chapter 1 Introduction to research methods in environmental studies
Introduction: The recent growth of environmental studies
Why is there so much interest in studying the environment?
Undergraduate research in environmental studies
The many and varied types of research questions
Disciplinary vs. interdisciplinary research
Conclusions
Note
References
Chapter 2 A brief history of knowledge and argumentation
Introduction
What is knowledge?
The origins of knowledge in the ancient world
The Renaissance: Beginnings of modern knowledge
Twentieth-century thought
Conclusions
Exercises/discussion questions
Notes
References
Chapter 3 General research design principles
Introduction
What is a research question?
A key distinction: Quantitative vs. qualitative research
What is evidence and how is it used?
Identifying interesting, feasible research projects
Feasibility: Can this project be done?
Interest: How much do I care about the answer?
An extended example: Local impacts of climate change
Conclusions
Exercises/discussion questions
References
Chapter 4 General principles of quantitative research
Introduction
What is quantitative research?
The relationship between theory and hypotheses
Using theory to generate hypotheses
Prelude to hypothesis testing
Representing variables with data
Conclusions
Exercises/discussion questions
References
Chapter 5 Quantitative data and sampling
Introduction
Data: The basics
Two important concepts: Unit of analysis and unit of observation
The structure of a quantitative database
Measurement error
Data collection: Sampling issues
Some practical issues of collecting and managing data
Conclusions
Exercises/discussion questions
Additional resources
Appendix: Sources of environmental data
References
Chapter 6 Basic quantitative methods and analysis
Introduction
Why statistical methods?
What sorts of questions might you ask of your data?
Describing random variables
Estimation and inference
More on characterizing random outcomes: Probability distributions
How good are our guesses? Statistical inference
Conclusions
Exercises/discussion questions
Additional resources
Appendix: Some intuition for interpreting the correlation coefficient formula
Note
Chapter 7 More advanced methods of quantitative analysis
Introduction
How do we know that an estimated relationship is not being generated by random noise?
How do we quantify the relationship between visitations and temperatures?: The basics of two-variable regression analysis
How trustworthy are our estimates of the relationship I?: The important notion of validity
How trustworthy are our estimates of the relationship II?: Statistical inference again
Is the relationship between visitations and temperatures linear?: Functional specification
How do we know it is temperatures that are affecting visitations and not something else?: Multiple Regression
Conclusions
Exercises/discussion questions
Additional resources
Note
References
Chapter 8 Spatial analysis and GIS
Introduction
The spatial nature of many environmental issues
Geographic information systems (GIS)
Some fundamentals of spatial analysis
Conclusions
Additional Resources
References
Chapter 9 General principles of qualitative research
Introduction
What is qualitative research?
Strategies of qualitative inquiry
Qualitative data
Validity
Reliability
Summary: Choosing a qualitative approach
Exercises/discussion questions
References
Chapter 10 The case study method
Introduction
What is a case study?
Why do a case study?
Carrying out a case study
Extended example: Berrens et al. on the Endangered Species Act
Conclusions
Exercises/discussion questions
References
Chapter 11 The ethnographic approach
Introduction
What is ethnography?
The goals and objectives of ethnography
The ethnographic approach in environmental studies
Ethnographic research procedures
Conclusions
Exercises/discussion questions
References
Chapter 12 Actor-network theory
Introduction
An example: Rain-fed agriculture in Ghana
What is actor-network theory?
Goals and objectives of actor-network theory
Some environmental applications of actor-network theory
Conclusions
Exercises/discussion questions
References
Chapter 13 Environmental discourse analysis
Introduction
What is environmental discourse analysis?
Two illustrations: DDT and regulation of flame-retardant chemicals
Why do environmental discourse analysis?
The components of environmental discourse analysis
Conclusions
Exercises/discussion questions
References
Chapter 14 Action research
Introduction
What is action research?
Why do action research?
Carrying out an action research project
Conclusions
Exercises/discussion questions
References
Chapter 15 Mixed methods
Introduction
What is mixed methods research?
Two illustrative examples
Why do mixed methods research?
Choosing a mixed methods strategy
Data collection and analysis
Some concerns about the mixed methods approach
Conclusions
Exercises/discussion questions
Note
References
Chapter 16 Data collection I: Principles of surveying
Introduction
General principles of survey methodology
Sampling
Methods of sampling
Principles of effective surveying: Maximizing responses
Principles of effective surveying: formatting and wording issues
Piloting the survey
Conclusions
Exercises/discussion questions
References
Chapter 17 Data collection IIInterviewing
Introduction
Why conduct interviews?
Overview of the interview-based study
Recruiting participants
Preparing for the interview
Conducting the interview
Analysis
Conclusions
Exercises/discussion questions
References
Chapter 18 Ethical issues in environmental research
Introduction
What are research ethics?
Some actual examples of potentially unethical research
General ethical considerations
Working with human participants
Institutional review board approval
Conclusions
Exercises/discussion questions
References
Chapter 19 Writing a research proposal
Introduction
Overview: The elements of a research proposal
Introduction
Review of related literature
Research questions/hypotheses
Methods and procedures
Plan of work
Works cited
Supporting materials
Conclusions
Exercises/discussion questions
References
Index