THE DECLINE OF FIELDWORK IN HUMAN GEOGRAPHY∗

∗We are indebted to Professor Geoffrey J. Martin, two anonymous reviewers, and the editors for their helpful insights and criticisms. Special thanks to Ms. Nanci Blanco for her valued assistance in collecting the data. An earlier version of this paper was presented at the 1986 AAG meeting in Minneapolis.

Abstract

Fieldwork has been an important component of human geography. A multi-decade analysis of articles in three major journals shows that human geographers since the mid-1970s have produced less fieldwork-based research than ever before in this century. The impetus for this unprecedented decline and other similar disciplinary trends are traced to several causes: demographic change, technological change, institutional pressures, and the resurgence of applied geography. Such fundamental change places disturbing questions before geographers.

Key Words:

• fieldwork
• human geography
• history of geography
• applied geography

Notes

∗We are indebted to Professor Geoffrey J. Martin, two anonymous reviewers, and the editors for their helpful insights and criticisms. Special thanks to Ms. Nanci Blanco for her valued assistance in collecting the data. An earlier version of this paper was presented at the 1986 AAG meeting in Minneapolis.