Geographic Information Systems for the Social Sciences

Investigating Space and Place

Steven J. Steinberg, Sheila L. Steinberg

• Publisher: SAGE Publications, Inc
• Year: 2005
• Print ISBN: 9780761928737, 9780761928720
• eBook ISBN: 9781506319612
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Social Sciences
• Subtopic: Social Science Research & Methodology
• Index: Social Sciences

"The Steinbergs have produced a very relevant book for the times. . . . While many books have emerged on the details of GIS, few resources exist to help teach the merger of GIS with more standard research methods. The Steinbergs accomplish this goal in a way that is readily accessible even to undergraduates."
—Theodore Wagenaar, Miami University  

"The Steinbergs take the reader through all of the essential foundations of GIS… using examples drawn from the social sciences throughout. This book will be essential reading for any social scientist looking for a straightforward introduction to GIS."
—Mike Goodchild, University of California, Santa Barbara  

Geographic Information Systems for the Social Sciences: Investigating Space and Place is the first book to take a cutting-edge approach to integrating spatial concepts into the social sciences. In this text, authors Steven J. Steinberg and Sheila L. Steinberg simplify GIS (Geographic Information Systems) for practitioners and students in the social sciences through the use of examples and actual program exercises so that they can become comfortable incorporating this research tool into their repertoire and scope of interest. The authors provide learning objectives for each chapter, chapter summaries, links to relevant Web sites, as well as suggestions for student research projects.  

Key Features:

• Presents step-by-step guidance for integrating GIS with both quantitative and qualitative research
• Provides an introduction to the use of GIS technology written at an accessible level for individuals without GIS experience while providing depth and guidance appropriate to experienced GIS users 
• Offers an associated interactive Web site—http://www.socialsciencegis.org—to provide a forum for sharing experience and ideas, input to the authors, and a variety of other examples, data, and information related to the topics covered in the text

Geographic Information Systems for the Social Sciences offers a nuts-and-bolts introduction to GIS for undergraduate and graduate students taking methods courses across the social sciences. It is an excellent textbook for courses dedicated to GIS research and its applications in the fields of Sociology, Criminology, Public Health, Geography, Anthropology, Political Science, and Environmental Studies. It is also a valuable resource for any social scientist or practitioner interested in applying GIS technology to his or her work.

An Instructor?s Resource CD, containing PowerPoint slides, test questions, and suggested Web site links, among other items, is also available to all professors adopting this text.

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• List of Boxes, Figures, and Tables
• Preface
• Introduction
• 1. Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
• 2. GIS Basics
• 3. Topics for Sociospatial Research
• 4. Research Design
• 5. Qualitative Research Methods and GIS
• 6. GIS Data Collection and Development (Sources, Input, and Output)
• 7. Measurement
• 8. Data Documentation and Model Development
• 9. Analysis, Interpretation, and Application
• 10. Future Opportunities for Social Research and GIS
• Glossary
• Web Links
• References
• Index
• About the Authors