Research Design
Course Number: GG690
Subject: Geography and Environmental Studies
Research Design
Clifford, N. J., Cope, M., & Gillespie, T. W. (Eds.). (2023). Key methods in geography (Fourth edition.). SAGE Publications.
- Provides an overview of qualitative and quantitative methods for human and physical geography.
Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2025). Qualitative inquiry & research design : choosing among five approaches (Fifth edition.). Sage.
- Not a Laurier copy. Sign in and request from other Omni libraries.
DeLyser, D. (2010). The SAGE handbook of qualitative geography (1st edition.). SAGE.
Gatrell, J. D., Bierly, G., & Jensen, R. R. (2012). Research design and proposal writing in spatial science (2nd ed.). Springer.
Lovell, S. A., Coen, S., & Rosenberg, M. W. (Eds.). (2023). The Routledge handbook of methodologies in human geography. Routledge.
Research Question
Alvesson, M., & Sandberg, J. (2013). Constructing research questions : doing interesting research (1st ed.). SAGE.
White, P. (2017). Developing research questions (Second edition.). Palgrave, Macmillan Education.
White, P. (2009). Developing research questions : a guide for social scientists. Palgrave Macmillan.
Theory, Paradigms, Frameworks
Cloke, P. J., & Johnston, R. J. (2005). Spaces of geographical thought deconstructing human geography’s binaries. SAGE.
Cresswell, T., & John Wiley & Sons, publisher. (2024). Geographic thought : a critical introduction (Second edition.). Wiley-Blackwell.
Kitchin, R., & Hubbard, P. (2011). Key thinkers on space and place (2nd ed.). SAGE.
Simpson, P. (2021). Non-representational theory. Routledge.
Yeung, H. W.-C. (2023). Theory and Explanation in Geography. (1st ed.). John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
- explores the theoretical frameworks and explanatory models within contemporary human geography.
Literature Review
Booth, A., Papaioannou, D., & Sutton, A. (2012). Systematic approaches to a successful literature review. Sage.
- Not written for Geography, but one of the most comprehensive guides to literature review. Link is to Laurier's copy. Newer editions can be requested.
Clifford, N. J., Cope, M., & Gillespie, T. W. (Eds.). (2023). Key methods in geography (Fourth edition.). SAGE Publications.
- See chapter "How to conduct a literature review"
Jesson, J., Matheson, L., & Lacey, F. (2011). Doing your literature review : traditional and systematic techniques. Los Angeles, Calif. ; London: SAGE.
- A classic and very readable work with a social science focus
Oliver, P. (2014). The literature review. In Writing your thesis (Third Edition ed., pp. 124-140). SAGE Publications Ltd.
Data Collection and Methods in Social Science Research
Lane, S., & Lave, R. (2025). The Field Guide to Mixing Social and Biophysical Methods in Environmental Research (Vol. 1). Open Book Publishers.
Mustafa, F. (Ed.). 2023. Methodological approaches in integrated geography. Springer.
Rantala, O., Kinnunen, V., & Höckert, E. (2024). Researching with Proximity : Relational methodologies for the Anthropocene (1st ed. 2024.). Springer Nature Switzerland.
Rae, A., & Wong, C. (Eds.) (2021). Applied data analysis for urban planning and management. (Vols. 1-0). SAGE.
von Benzon, N., Holton, M., Wilkinson, C., & Wilkinson, S. (Eds.) (2021). Creative methods for human geographers. (Vols. 1-0). SAGE.
Data Collection and Methods in Physical Science Research
Lane, S., & Lave, R. (2025). The Field Guide to Mixing Social and Biophysical Methods in Environmental Research (Vol. 1). Open Book Publishers.
Oberg, G. (2011). Interdisciplinary environmental studies a primer. Wiley-Blackwell.
Mustafa, F. (Ed.). 2023. Methodological approaches in physical geography. Springer.
Rantala, O., Kinnunen, V., & Höckert, E. (2024). Researching with Proximity : Relational methodologies for the Anthropocene (1st ed. 2024.). Springer Nature Switzerland.
- Explores speculative, experimental approaches to studying the Arctic, emphasizing proximity to vulnerable environments and multispecies communities
Vero, S. (2021). Fieldwork ready : an introductory guide to field research for agriculture, environment, and soil scientists. Wiley-ACSESS.
- Addresses less-discussed aspects of fieldwork such as communication, planning and logistics as well as basic technical skills used in environmental research
Ethics and Data Sovereignty with Indigenous Communities
Wilson, H. F., & Darling, J. (2020). Research Ethics for Human Geography: A Handbook for Students (H. F. Wilson & J. Darling, Eds.; 1st edition). SAGE Publications.
Andersen, C., Walter, M., Kukutai, T., & Gabel, C. (2025). Indigenous Statistics: From Data Deficits to Data Sovereignty (2.). Taylor & Francis.
Walter, M. (Ed.). (2021). Indigenous data sovereignty and policy (1st ed.). Taylor & Francis.
Further Reading
Graduate School in General
- Haggerty, K., & Doyle, A. (2015). 57 ways to screw up in grad school : perverse professional lessons for graduate students. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
- Berdahl, L., & Malloy, J. (2018). Work Your Career: Get What You Want from Your Social Sciences or Humanities PhD. University of Toronto Press.
- Heard, S. (2016). The Scientist’s Guide to Writing : How to Write More Easily and Effectively throughout Your Scientific Career. Princeton University Press.
Graduate Theses Manuals
Parsons, T. and Knight, PG. (2015). How To Do Your Dissertation in Geography and Related Disciplines. Routledge.
- Intended for Undergraduates but still has good information for all stages of writing a dissertation.
- ebook - WLU Copy
Dollinger, M. (2019). Getting the Most Out of Your Doctorate. Bingley: Emerald Publishing.
Blair, L. (2016). Writing a Graduate Thesis or Dissertation. Boston : Brill.
Oliver, P. (2014). Writing your thesis. (Third edition.). SAGE.
- Contains a chapter on writing a literature review
- ebook - WLU Copy
Biggam, J. (2015). Succeeding with your master's dissertation : a step-by-step handbook. Berkshire, England : Open University Press
General Library Research Manuals
Abbott, A. (2014). Digital paper : a manual for research and writing with library and internet materials. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
- Abbott is an expert Sociologist and provides a great narrative (Ch. 2, A Library Ethnography) of what detailed library work consists of.
Mann, T. (2015). The Oxford guide to library research. 4th ed. New York: Oxford University Press.
- A comprehensive look into the entire gamut of library research; covers database searching at the intermediate to expert level.