Geo-ethnography: Coupling Geographic Information Analysis Techniques with Ethnographic Methods in Urban Research

Abstract

This research article focuses on the coupling of geographic information system (GIS) technologies with ethnographic data, an approach we refer to as geo-ethnography. The data used here were gathered in an ongoing, multi-site study of low-income families and their children. Throughout our work, the goals have been to think creatively about how GIS can be used in welfare research, to stretch the technology, and to revise the methodologies we currently use. We specifically discuss the ways in which the ethnographic data on families and neighbourhoods have been integrated within a GIS and how these two methods, alone and in combination, help situate families' actions and experiences in time and space and enhance data analysis and interpretation. More specifically, we focus on conceptual and methodological issues we have faced in the process of this integration and on practical strategies for combining qualitative and quantitative research.

Measuring the food environment using geographical information systems: a methodological review

“…Many phenomena are continuously distributed over space and are independent of arbitrarily defined boundaries (66,67) . Estimating the density of food outlets within buffers, or by means of kernel density estimation rather than administrative area, enables one to take into account the fact that individuals often cross the boundaries of their residential area to go shopping.…”

Considering daily mobility for a more comprehensive understanding of contextual effects on social inequalities in health: A conceptual proposal

“…income or education) (Krivo et al, 2013, Kestens et al, 2010, Christian, 2012, Paez et al, 2010, or one's relation to others (e.g. social network) (Skelton, 2013, McPherson et al, 2001, Matthews et al, 2005, White and Green, 2010, have all been related to this dimension of mobility patterns. In the L.A.FANS study, people of lower educational attainment conducted activities in more disadvantaged areas than their more educated counterparts (Krivo et al, 2013).…”

Vers la recuperació dels corredors fluvials metropolitans. El cas de la conca del Besòs a la regió metropolitana de Barcelona

“…Centre de Recerca Polis, recull dels projectes de participació ciutadana desenvolupats i en procés de desenvolupament, consultables a: http://www.ub.edu/escult/index_participacio.html Lefebvre, 2000), la geografia humanista (Nogué, 1985), la psicologia ambiental (Valera, 1996) i l'urbanisme humanista (Jacobs, 2012;Cámara, 2012), amb l'objectiu d'abordar l'estudi de la dimensió vivencial de l'espai a partir de la interacció entre les pràctiques quotidianes, les representacions i el propi espai físic (Molina et al, 2007). La diagnosi geoetnogràfica es construeix a partir del diàleg constant entre la dimensió física de l'espai i els continguts antropològics, històrics i/o socials diversos que el caracteritzen (Matthews et al, 2005; Biffle i Thompson, 2006;Verd i Porcel, 2012). La diagnosi s'efectua en base a una recollida participada de dades i un tractament i una representació posteriors d'aquestes a través dels sistemes d'informació geogràfica (SIG).…”

“…3. Integrar enfocaments quantitatius i qualitatius per a l'anàlisi i la teorització inductiva de l'objecte d'estudi (Knigge i Cope, 2006;Matthews et al, 2005). 4.…”