The Decline of Fieldwork in Human Geography∗

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.

The Challenges and Rewards of Introducing Field Trips Into a Large Introductory Geography Class

“…Despite positive literature on the value and importance of fieldwork to an undergraduate education in geography, the evidence suggests (Rundstrom and Kenzer 1989;Clark 1996;McEwen 1996;Pawson and Teather 2002;McGuinness and Simm 2005;Mullens, Bristow, and Cuper 2012) it is no longer a requirement of a geography degree. Although there has been growth in the number of field courses offered in American universities, few geography programs require students to participate in field courses to fulfill their degree programs (Mullens, Bristow, and Cuper 2012).…”

Campus-Based Geographic Learning: A Field Oriented Teaching Scenario

“…Many geographers recognize the value of fieldwork oriented educational activities (Bednarz 1999;Gerber and Chuan 2000;McEwen 1996), even at a time when some are decrying the loss of a field emphasis in geography (Rundstrom and Kenzer 1989;Salter 2001). The National Geography Standards state that "fieldwork performed by the students, [is] important in geographic inquiry" (Geography Education Standards Project 1994, 43).…”

“…This approach is designed to accommodate multiple forms of intelligence and to incorporate multiple teaching strategies into the curriculum. At a time when some are decrying the loss of a field emphasis in geography (Rundstrom and Kenzer 1989;Salter 2001), this article suggests that field-oriented classes are an effective means of teaching geography. These classes have proven successful in meeting the goals of the National Geography Standards.…”

The geography of field research in Iceland

“…In spite of fluctuating trends in geographical practice, the tradition of fieldwork remains strong in current geographical thinking. Rundstrom and Kenzer (1989) argue that primary data are crucial in geography, and that 'the field' remains an essential source of information in geographical research. Salter and Meserve (1991) express views typical of recent methodological writing in mainstream geographical literature when they write that "... onsite field experience provides the only means of obtaining geographical familiarity without filtering that knowledge through the mind of another.…”

“…For example, the general decline in fieldwork among American geographers in the 1970s and 1980s (e.g. Rundstrom and Kenzer 1989;Lonsdale 1986) was given some geographic specificity by Gade (1983) and Lonsdale (1986), who identified a decline in the proportion of research carried out by American geographers in foreign areas. Gade (1983) attributed the decline to "unilingual thinking" amongst American geographers.…”