GEOG*2260 BLOG

geog2260 blog posts - Jordan Anderson, 2nd year geography

[jmageo2260-deactivated20210621]

GEOG 2260 Final Post

I have taken several courses throughout high school and university where I learned about quantitative data. Quantitative research is about numbers. And what I found interesting in this course is that qualitative research is often about the opinions, thoughts and feelings of a respondent; to explain people and their relationship to places (Hay, 2016, Chapter 1). 

These Three Things I know for certain about human geography research: 

One thing I know for certain is how to ensure the rigour of the research process through triangulation. According to Hooykaas (2021), this means that “we are looking at multiply ways of getting to the answer.” Triangulation would be applied to various stages of the research process. It is essential to look at different sources, check your research process and methods, speak to multiple researchers and verify the information you collected. This adds validity to your entire research project. 

Another thing I know for certain is the concept of research ethics. The implementation of fundamental ethical principles into one’s research is extremely important. These include, but are not limited to, applying moral rules and codes into collecting and analyzing the research subjects and accepting the person’s right to privacy, confidentiality, and informed consent. Taking the CORE (Course on Research Ethics) Tutorial involving humans taught me a lot about this topic. 

 One topic I thoroughly enjoyed is the idea of coding. All of us have used a highlighter to identify valuable and important information. Categorizing codes according to a coding framework is not something I have learned before. It is an effective way to organize data. This can be achieved through deductive coding, when you have a set of predefined themes that will be applied, or inductive coding when you are not sure yet how to organize your data and create codes that will cover data in the article. 

The things I am still confused by? 

While I feel I grasped most of the concepts taught in this course, there are some things I think I could strengthen that would benefit me as a human geographer. One notion that I personally struggled with was critical reflexivity. “Reflexivity,” as defined by Kim England (1994), “is a process of constant, self-conscious scrutiny of the self as a researcher and of the research process” (Hay, pg. 34). Critical reflexivity can be a complex concept to grasp when entering the world of qualitative research. As Hooykaas (2021) stated, the difficulty with it is that I am not used to scrutinizing my own engagement with my work. I understand that it is important that I have an awareness, as a researcher, of how I may be influencing the research process or subject. 

Another topic I feel I could’ve done a better job at grasping is grounded theory. This methodology is primarily used in qualitative research and involves forming hypotheses by collecting and analyzing data. I did some outside research to understand the concept and came across the explanation that it is a theory that is grounded in the voices of those studies. 

 While I have enjoyed coding, I was confused by the concept of cognitive bias and definitional drift in the coding process. Hooykaas (2021) defines that it “occurs when the beginning of the data set is coded differently than the material coded later.” I understand that by coding your data just with words, each researcher’s definition of what that word describes could vary and may not be directly related to what we are actually trying to research. 

These three things I know for certain about me as a human geographic researcher 

Firstly, I know that I am a more extroverted person and that I work well with other people instead of working by myself. Being in a group brings new and different ideas to the table, allowing for a better discussion of ideas. Working as a group for our presentation made it easier to cover a broader range of topics. Additionally, receiving and giving feedback to our blog post allowed me to relate to the course concept on a deeper level. The interaction of humans and the environment is a multidisciplinary subject matter. According to Hay (2015), “Contemporary human geographers study places, people, bodies, discourses, silenced voices, and fragmented landscapes." 

As a human geographer, I will have many real-world situations to apply my knowledge to find out why and how events occur, how human culture interacts with their natural environment, and how locations can impact people. I also know that I am required to develop strong analytical and writing skills. This course has introduced me to many essential basic skills of performing qualitative research, including conducting an interview, collecting qualitative data, and applying research and analytical methods. 

 As a human researcher, I know that there are many types of qualitative research. Ethnography is an interesting type to me. The interaction and connection on a deeper level with people from other backgrounds and cultures while immersing yourself in their community is highly fascinating to me. In the future, I can apply my knowledge gained in GEOG 2260 and apply it to geographical problems and issues such as how human activity affects the environment and how the environment affects humans. Human Geography is crucial as it draws together many strands to understand the world today. 

These Three Areas I need to spend time developing/learning to feel more confident in my skills. 

One skill I could spend more time developing is my research skills. For our Digital Storybook Assignment, we were required to include six peer-reviewed journal articles as well as four other sources of information that were trustworthy. This is an area that I need to spend more time on. For the most part, while it is easy to find peer-reviewed journal articles, they are often precise in a topic and are often written using complex language due to the subject matter. The difficulty with other sources of information is trying to assess the credibility of such. Not all sources are reliable, and it is vital for me as the researcher to critically evaluate, make sure the information is current, does the author have credentials and is the website reputable and non-biased. 

I need to spend more time developing is my interview skills. Interviews are an excellent method of gaining access to information about events, opinions, and experiences. Opinions and experiences vary enormously among people of different class, ethnicity, age, and sexuality (Hay, 150). It is important to be adequately prepared for the interview. Even though I was able to expand my knowledge on different types of interviewing, it is an area that I can develop further as I progress as a human geographer. 

Last but not least, a skill that I need to spend more time developing is to feel more confident when analyzing surveys. There are many different ways data can be presented and various methods to explore it. It is crucial to analyze to form a conclusion based on that analysis properly. Surveys, where the data collected is ordinal, categorical, interval or ratio, can often be analyzed electronically. Surveys with open-ended questions get more complicated to interpret. 

 Hay, I. (2005). Qualitative Research Methods in Human Geography (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. 

 Hooykaas, A. (2021). Lecture Notes from GEOG2260- Applied Human Geography.

[jkageog2260]

Hi Jordan!

I wanna first start out by saying I like the visuals you included in your post, the first one really caught my eye and the others do a good job in breaking up the text. Reading through your first section, it is apparent that you understand the content from this course. I like how you included the CORE course that we did at the beginning of this course, it shows that you applied some of the knowledge you learned from the CORE into the rest of our course. You were clear with the topics that you are still confused on, and I can agree that I am also a little bit confused on parts of coding. I think this is a very important skill but also a very complicated skill which is why we may both be slightly confused on this concept. I like how you highlighted/worded the topics that you are certain about yourself. I agree with being more extroverted and working in a group setting helps to generate new ideas. I also loved receiving feedback on these blog posts as it helps to strengthen future blog posts. I also really enjoyed reading your sectioning on things you want to spend more time on. I often struggle with the same issue in finding other sources that are credible. I agree with you in saying that it is vital to provide accurate and credible research, so spending more time fine-tuning this skill would be very beneficial for our future in human geography. I also want to improve my interviewing skills as I think we can recognize this is a very important skill to have, and I like how you included interview information from the textbook. After reading your post, it definitely shows that you enjoyed this course and understand your strengths and weaknesses. Thank you for sharing this post and good luck with your exams!

- The other Jordan

[ahgeog2260-deactivated20211210]

A Course to Remember...

I won’t lie. If given the choice of which geography course to take, this would not have been the first pick for me. I tend to steer clear of the more technical fields of geography and only take an interest in those concerning the environment, but I can honestly say that I enjoyed this course more than I anticipated. The content and the way it was delivered were engaging and thought-provoking. As I take a look back at the semester, this will be a course I recommend in the future.

What I Learned About Human Geographic Research

I learned a lot from this course but there are a few topics that are engraved in my mind. The first is known as critical reflexivity, a process of self-evaluation and criticism as the researcher and on the research process (Hay, 2016). There are three types to choose from, objectivity, subjectivity, and intersubjectivity (Hay, 2016). Critical reflexivity is a large part of being a researcher that comes with difficulties, for example, power (Hooykaas, 2021). This was a confusing concept for me in the beginning, but as we dove deeper into the course material and I reviewed my notes it became more clear.

The second topic is known as research ethics. All research is held to a high standard and must follow certain guidelines (Hooykaas, 2021). I learned this is necessary to keep participants safe and allow for the researcher to reap benefits such as funding and being published (Hooykaas, 2021). I was unaware of how much preparation and consideration went into conducting research and the parties involved.

The third topic is known as coding. Coding is used when researching to categorize and analyze data (Hooykaas, 2021). There are two primary types of coding, deductive and inductive, as well as two types of coding frames, flat and hierarchical (Hooykaas, 2021). Coding can also be based on different aspects depending on the topic of your research, for example, you can choose to code by use of themes, ideas, terms, or keywords (Hooykaas, 2021).

What Confuses Me

The delivery of course content allowed for an adequate understanding of most course materials. The most confusing unit was that on analyzing surveys. I have a slight understanding of the different types of data but they have always provided me with struggles. I was not aware that surveys are much more complex than asking questions and receiving answers.

A second confusing concept arose in unit nine, critical analysis. We were required to write a blog post critically analyzing an article. This was an intimidating experience as I had not yet inquired an in-depth understanding of the material. I was able to review the content and develop a small understanding, but I am no expert in the subject.

A concept that I have long struggled to understand is that of qualitative and quantitative research, data, and everything else relating to those two concepts. These two concepts have been used since elementary school days and I still am unable to grasp their meanings and how to apply them.

What I Know for Certain About Myself as a Human Geographic Researcher

One of the main things that I know for certain is that I will often unconsciously apply certain concepts to daily life as my human geographer instincts kick in. For example, research ethics will force me to be considerate of the way I converse with others on a day-to-day basis, while using critical reflexivity to evaluate the process to ensure I am being respectful.

A second thing that I know for certain is that, even with my newfound appreciation for human geography, I much prefer the environmental side of geography that works with concepts such as the human impact on the environment and climatology. With that being said, there are various concepts from this discipline that are useful to all disciplines, including environmental geography

The last thing that I know for certain about myself as a human geographer is that I am nowhere near finished with learning and I don’t believe I ever will be. There will always be new concepts and methods of researching as the year's pass.

What I Need To Feel Confident in My Skills as a Human Geographic Researcher

To feel more confident in my skills, I would like to further my knowledge of coding and the different types. I believe this concept would be extremely beneficial in other courses as I complete assignments, but only if I can obtain a superb understanding of the topic as I believe it would prolong my assignments if I was still met with confusion. I believe furthering my understanding of data collection, specifically, the types of questions to ask would be extremely beneficial for post-undergrad. Knowing what types of questions to ask depends on the results you are looking for could prove to be useful when completing research assignments or inquiring about job positions. The last, and most important, area that I need to spend time on to feel more confident in my human geographic research skills is doing more research outside of class materials and assigned readings when something is unclear to further my understanding of the topic. I often do the bare minimum to receive average grades, but I would like to start implementing a few practices, such as additional research, to receive above-average grades.

Concluding Remarks

As I have stated earlier, and in previous blog posts, this course exceeded my expectations and there are various concepts that I will take away from this experience and apply to my studies and daily life. Thank you Dr. Hooykaas.

References

Hay, I. (2016). Qualitative Research Methods in Human Geography (4th ed.). Oxford Univ Press.

Hooykaas, A. (2021). GEOG*2260 Applied Human Geography. University of Guelph.

[jkageog2260]

Hi! I want to start by saying I completely agree with your opening paragraph. I would have never chosen this course on my own, but after taking it I would also recommend it to others. I like how you worded your post and it sounds like you fully understand the three topics you mentioned. Using our class slides as well as the textbook demonstrates that you paid attention to the course content. I appreciate you mentioning how certain units were intimidating as you had no previous experience as I can relate to this. I also agree with your section in what you know about yourself as a human geographer. I also prefer the environmental side of geography but have found an appreciation for human geography. There are so many aspects of human geography that there is definitely more to learn, and that theres always room for more knowledge.It is good that you can recognize those areas you need to spend more time on as the things you mentioned such as coding can also help you in other courses as well. Overall, this was a well-written post and I think you did a really good job explaining yourself! If I could provide any feedback my only suggestion would be to maybe add more pictures, however I do really like the one that you included at the beginning. Thank you for sharing and good luck on exams!

[jkageog2260]

My Final Thoughts on GEOG*2260

Throughout the semester, I have learned many new techniques and methods applying to human geography. I thoroughly enjoyed this semester and I want to take the time to highlight the new information I have gathered throughout the semester and my experiences with this course.

These three things I know for certain about human geography research: 

When starting this class, I had never really done qualitative research. I can now confidently say that I know what is included when it comes to qualitative research. As Hay emphasizes in our textbook, qualitative research demonstrates the relationship between people and places (2016). I gained a lot of knowledge on qualitative research when writing our blog prompt #3 as we analyzed an interview video on Agafia. Qualitative research focuses on the process, rather than the product, and is very descriptive and detailed by using an inductive process (Hooykaas, 2021, Week 2). Hay also highlights the fact that qualitative research typically includes very detailed interviews rather than just questionnaires (2016), which is what the interview with Agafia was. I feel confident in saying that I understand the parameters of qualitative research and how they are applied in real life.

Secondly, this class has taught me how to confidently collect data and create a research proposal. The digital storytelling project really furthered my knowledge in presenting research. Blog prompt #7 taught me how to deductively code using a flat coding frame. Coding is very important in data collection as manually coding qualitative data means that the coder’s cognitive biases can influence the coding process (Hooykaas, 2021, Week 8). Once the coding is done, you can then begin the process of writing up the research and forming a research question/proposal. The textbook taught me the importance of creating a strong write-up that can then lead to a final question (Hay, 2016). We used this technique in our digital storytelling project to gather research and come up with a final research question. 

Lastly, I fully understand the extent of critical reflexivity, objectivity, subjectivity, and intersubjectivity. I learned that reflexivity is the process of continuous self-consciousness of oneself as a researcher and the research process (Hooykaas, 2021, Week 2). Reflexivity comes with power and subjectivity as subjectivity “involves the insertion of personal opinions and characteristics into research practice” (Hooykaas, 2021, Week 2). With reflexivity comes an invisible backpack. We must unpack our own experiences and knowledge to understand how others may think and act differently from us. This is very important in research as we need to be aware of the circumstances of the situation, and how people may perceive things differently.

These three things I am still confused by:

One thing I am still confused about in this course is ensuring that my research question is strong enough. I feel confident in the process of getting to the research question, but when it comes to actually create the question, I am not sure if I fully understand how to make it strong. As the textbook showed us “Writing a Compelling Research Proposal” (Hay, 2016), I still feel unsure on how to verify if it is powerful enough. For my digital storytelling project, our final research question was “What is Rural Geography?”, which to me did not sound intelligent enough, however, it worked very well for us. I want to understand further what would be considered a strong research question. 

Another thing I am still confused about is the other side of coding. As I mentioned, I fully understand deductive coding with a flat coding frame, however, I still don’t quite understand inductive coding with a hierarchical coding frame. We learned that inductive coding means taking your data and breaking it into samples, then individually coding those samples (Hooykaas, 2021, Week 8). I don’t understand what it means to create new codes on all of your samples, to me it seems like it will take more time. I understand that a hierarchical frame shows you how everything relates, but I don’t understand how to layout the frame, and to me, it looks much busier and harder to read.

Lastly, I don’t fully understand how analyzing surveys work. I still get confused by the four types of data responses and how to categorize them. I am then unsure how relative frequency statistics work and the math behind them. We learned that you, “calculate the total number of responses and then divide the number in each category by the total” (Hooykaas, 2021, Week 5). Then sorting the data between ordinal and interval confuses me as they seem quite similar. How I am used to analyzing surveys and data is very different from this approach so I am still slightly confused about how it all works.

These three things I know for certain about me as a human geographic researcher:

First, I know for certain that I have my own invisible backpack and my own personal experiences that I can use to further my understanding of human geography. This course has taught me how to recognize my own privilege and knowledge and how it may differ from others. As Hay mentions the relationship between people and places (2016), I know that I also have relationships with places all over the world, the same as everyone else. I have learned how to use this knowledge to strengthen my research and apply it to my work, like in the digital storytelling project I could relate to the struggles of living in a rural area.

Secondly, I know that I can apply human geography to physical geography, as that is where my focus is. As much as I enjoyed this class, my heart will always be set on physical geography. After this course, I realized that there are many techniques I can take with me in my physical geography future. For example, I hope one day to be doing fieldwork, and with my new understanding of qualitative research, I know that I can apply techniques of qualitative research, such as detailed interviews, in my field. The textbook helped me to understand how interviews should be done ethically (Hay, 2016), which I can now use for myself.

Lastly, one thing I know about myself as a human geographic researcher is that I enjoy working in a group setting. The digital storytelling project took up many weeks this semester, and I thoroughly enjoyed working with my rural geography group. I found that bouncing ideas off of each other would help us to create the best work possible and that it helps to have a second opinion. I found that having a group motivated me to work harder as we all shared the same project. After this class, I now know for certain that I enjoy working in a group as it is extremely beneficial to my work.

These three areas I need to spend time developing/learning in order to feel more confident in my skills:

As I mentioned feeling confident in qualitative research, I think it would be beneficial to spend more time understanding quantitative research. I believe that both are important skills to have in human geography, as they build off of each other. As Hay did highlight certain quantitative methods such as surveys and analyzing (2016), I think that I would feel more confident in my research if I could spend more time covering statistics and other quantitative methods.

I also want to spend more time working on my interviewing skills. During our blog prompt #5, I got to dive into an interview process slightly and received some great feedback from other classmates. After reading other blog posts, I think that my interviewing skills can be improved. I want to ensure that my questions hold the power to gather informative answers. I also want to ensure I follow all of the ethical considerations highlighted in the textbook, such as consent and privacy (Hay, 2016). I believe that strengthening my interviewing skills can help me in my future career. 

Lastly, I want to spend time developing research proposal skills as I mentioned I am still slightly confused on how to create the perfect research question. I think that having a powerful question severely impacts all of your other work, and draws the reader in. Hay (2016) taught us the importance and how to generate a research proposal. As I learned many new things, I want to spend more time fine-tuning my skills. I believe that this will have a positive effect on not only me as a human geographer but a physical geographer as well.

Last Comments

Overall, I had a great semester in this class and really enjoyed these blogs posts. Thank you to everyone who engaged with my posts as I certainly enjoyed reading all of yours! 

References 

Hay, I. (2016). Qualitative Research Methods in Human Geography, Toronto. Oxford University Press.

Hooykaas, A. (2021) Weeks 2, 5, 8. 

[atgeog2260]

Extinction: Elephants driven to the brink by poaching

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-56510593 

Background/Key message 

The article I will be discussing is titled “Extinction: Elephants driven to the brink by poaching” written by Victoria Gill on March 25th, 2021. The threat of extinction of African forest elephants and Savanna elephants (the two distinct elephant groups) based on herd numbers is much more underestimated than had previously been thought. Recent studies and statistics being released suggests that poaching seems to be having a large impact on native elephant species and is said to be one of the main drivers for the current situation. 

“-the number of forest elephants fell by more than 86% during the past three decades. In addition, the number of savanna elephants fell by at least 60% over the past 50 years.”

Not only poaching but also land degradation and fragmentation is a large concern, as herds are increasingly losing habitat. Loss of grazing ground because of human activity (e.g. changing farming practices such as increased farm size) exacerbates survival problems as  elephants require a large roaming zone and to be able to travel vast distances. This means that herd protection and conservation is not restricted to individual nations and requires multinational coordination, since these animals do not recognize national boundaries. The wildlife specialists quoted in the article have faith that we can restore the elephant population with careful environmental preservation tactics and that “conservationists doing work on the ground in Africa to protect habitats would be the most crucial players in the effort to protect the animals. Those are the organizations to donate your money to". In particular, it was noted by one conservationist that the mere recognition that wild elephant populations are under threat is a big, positive step forward and she also noted that many African governments are very willing to help in partnerships to support conservation.

Sources and Methods Used    

One of the research methods that was used in this article was “Validity and Authenticity” (Hooykaas, week 9, slide 21) and the main strategy that was used was “use of expert consultations”. Other than data showing percentage reductions in forest and savannah populations over the past decades, not much quantitative data was presented, but rather the author decided to reference many specialized people in the field to give an overview of the current predicament. One of these professionals being Dr.Ben Okita, who co-chairs the IUCN elephant specialist group, Isla Duporge from Wildlife Conservation Research Unit at the University of Oxford and also Amy Fraenkel, executive secretary of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals.

The textbook brings up something called “Participatory Action Research” which is “The knowledge about social injustice includes understanding methods for change and thus organizing skills necessary to remedy the injustice” (Hay 2016, p350). I feel this is applicable to the notion of poaching because although this situation is not obviously dealing with social injustices, if you dig a little deeper into the topic it becomes clearer.  The reason for the poaching in the first place is definitely a social issue, they are driven to harmful activity through widespread and abject poverty in many of the regions. Affective policing and reduced poaching of wildlife reserves in turn helps the local tourism industry in some areas which rely on a vigorous and healthy wildlife ecosystem to attract rich tourists. People come from all over the globe to see these beautiful creatures and such tourism helps support both the local economy and finance wildlife reserves. 

The article also highlights the importance of DNA technology (the use of maternal (mitochondrial) DNA to identify individuals in herds and their origins in order to see which herds are under threat and from where. For example, confiscated tusks give a clue as to which herds (and their location) are being targeted by poachers, enabling effective counter poaching/policing.

Consumer expectations 

After reading this article the consumer is expected to and encouraged to think deeply about their own actions and about how situations like these could so readily be swept under the rug if not shared and read about. Consumers are encouraged to read more about this topic and to spread the word, as well as to support conservation groups, anti poaching organizations, and not purchase ivory products (the latter is not explicitly mentioned but is implied). This article will help raise awareness and educate the population on an important, underestimated topic concerning biodiversity, not only regarding the elephant population of Africa, but other animal groups threatened with extinction. 

References 

Gill, B. V. (2021, March 25). Extinction: Elephants driven to the brink by poaching. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-56510593

Hay, Iain. Qualitative Research Methods in Human Geography. Fourth ed., Oxford, 2016

Hooykaas, (2021). Week 9: Writing Qualitative Geographies, Constructing Geographical Knowledge Data Analysis, Writing, and Re-Evaluating Research Aims Presenting Findings https://courselink.uoguelph.ca/d2l/le/content/668082/viewContent/2737908/View  

Hooykaas, (2021). Week 10 :How to Market your Skills 

https://courselink.uoguelph.ca/d2l/le/content/668082/viewContent/2744643/View 

[jkageog2260]

Hi Abigail! Your post really caught my attention with your informative title and pictures. You did a very good job highlighting the key messages, I feel informed on the topic just from reading that. You also did a very good job relating it back to our course content and textbook, and finding the methods used. This post definitely left me thinking about my own personal contribution like you said it would leave readers thinking. I agree with you in saying this article will help raise awareness and spread the word, as this is something very disheartening to see. Thank you for sharing! 

[jkageog2260]

Has COVID-19 Peaked?

For this weeks post, I chose to analyze “Has COVID peaked? Maybe, but it’s too soon to be sure” (Mallapaty, 2021) that was published on March 23rd, 2021. I chose to analyze this article as we are all patiently awaiting any news on vaccines and any ideas on when this pandemic will be over, and this article fit perfectly with these questions. 

Key Message

The key message of this article discusses how we saw a peak of covid cases in January 2021, and it has been slowly decreasing since (in the United States). There are many uncertainties when it comes to this pandemic which leaves everything unpredictable. Talking with Ramanan Laxminarayan, an epidemiologist, with the peak in January, we may see more waves but the worst is behind us (Mallapaty, 2021). Other factors such as lockdown measures can have a huge affect on cases, and opening things back up can potentially send us backwards. It is argued that it is a race against time, and if we are going to be able to administer the vaccinate fast enough before the COVID variants take over. 

In the Amazonas state city of Manaus, Brazilian healthcare workers treat patients in January 2021.Credit: Jonne Roriz/Bloomberg via Getty

Sources

This article only cites one source, Chen, X. et al. Lancet Glob. Health https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(21)00026-7 (2021), however, they consult other sources throughout the article. They frequently mention talking with Caitlin Rivers, an epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins Hospital, and Ramanan Laxminarayan, and epidemiologist at Princeton University. This method relates to “Validity and Authenticity” and the “use of expert consultations” as the article presents information from people who are working in the medical field and are dealing with COVID-19 first-hand (Hooykaas, Week 9). This gives a sense of real experiences rather than a bunch of numbers and statistics (however this article features both aspects). This also relates to our textbook as legitimacy is very important in research (Hay, 2016). By providing accounts from epidemiologist working at reputable facilities, we can assume the information is legitimate. The article uses sources such as the US CDC, and “Our world in data” to provide statistics such as “according to national reporting, and about 390 million doses had been administered” (Mallapaty, 2021). Sources such as the CDC are government approved and extremely valid, which is good to include in articles to provide the reader with accurate facts. 

Source: Our world in data

Expectations

The expectations and responsibilities the reader may have after reading this article is to take this information and apply it to their daily lives. As we can see the cases decreasing, we still need to take appropriate measures to stay safe. Talking with an infectious-disease researcher at the University of California, Marm Kilpatrick mentions “But the overall numbers don’t reflect large variations within communities” (Mallapaty, 2021). This shows how just because it may seem like the cases are decreasing on the television, doesn’t mean your community is 100% safe. We still need to be careful with the variants which is why Mallapaty highlights the importance of lockdowns by stating “If people in relatively low-prevalence regions start mixing again when restrictions are relaxed, cases could once more begin to rise, researchers warn” (2021). This article may give some readers hope that there is a light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to the pandemic, but it’s not over just yet. The reader can use this article to keep updated on the progress we have made, but also the precautions we still need to take. 

References 

Hay, I (2016). Qualitative Research Methods in Human Geography, Toronto. Oxford University Press.

Hooykaas, A. (2021). Week 9

Mallapaty, S. (2021) Has COVID peaked? Maybe, but it’s too soon to be sure. Retrieved March 23, 2021, from https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-00705-9 

[krgeog2260-deactivated20241207]

Coding Qualitative Data

Overview

For this week’s blog post, we’re going to be focussing on coding and the benefits it can bring to a research project. The two types of coding include inductive and deductive. In my opinion, deductive seems more beginner friendly because of the predetermined set of codes that you have ready for analyzing your data. On the other hand, inductive coding allows for less bias and a complete view of the project’s theme (Hooykaas, 2021). I decided to code one article that I had already found when working to complete the digital storytelling assignment proposal because of its contents pertaining to our final project and to current events such as systemic racism and the COVID-19 pandemic. The second is a resource I have found since continuing on with the project. My first article is titled “Social Equity and COVID‐19: The Case of African Americans”, which was written in May of 2020 and written by James Wright and Cullen Merritt. The second article is titled “A Short Definition For Population Studies”.

My Coding Choices

Since I am the beginner in this circumstance, I decided to go with deductive coding. The codes I created were based on keywords and important themes. I chose to use a flat coding frame because of where my group is in the project progress and its organization style. The project would still benefit from compiling all of the important and specific data, so I kept it more on the broader side Hooykaas, 2021). I also chose flat coding because my articles aren’t overly long, which is when hierarchical frames work better.

The codes I’m going to be working with are:

“Population” / “Demography” - Highlighted yellow

Unevenness between demographics (theme) - Highlighted red

“Person/People of colour” - Highlighted green

“COVID-19” - Highlighted blue

These are keywords or themes that I know will be heavily talked about in my first article and the theme of unevenness can be quite broad in demography. The pictures below are my coding for my first article “Social Equity and COVID‐19: The Case of African Americans”.

Using the same keywords, here is my second coding attempt with the article titled “A Short Definition For Population Studies”.

Application To The Assignment

Spending the time to code research can help bring further understanding to certain topics as well as providing strong evidence in our finished storytelling assignment. By manually coding these articles I am “making accuracy a priority” (Hooykaas, 2021) and completing a preliminary analysis of the information my group is using. A great strategy my group can take on is doing individual coding and rereading our peers codes to make sure we aren’t drifting far from our research prompt. Once this process is done, it has shown us where our strongest evidence is and where additional research may be needed.

References

Dartmouth Libraries. (2015). Human Geography: Population studies. Retrieved from https://researchguides.dartmouth.edu/human_geography/population

Hay, I. (2005). Qualitative Research Methods in Human Geography (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.

Hooykaas, A. “Week 8. Coding” University of Guelph, 2021.

Wright, J., & Merritt, C. (2020). Social Equity and COVID‐19: The Case of African Americans. Public Administration Review, 80(5), 820–826. https://doi.org/10.1111/puar.13251

[jkageog2260]

Hi Kirsten!

I really enjoyed reading your blog post this week! I chose the same methods as you as I agree with you in saying that deductive is better for beginnings (which I am as well). I think going into your article with keywords in mind can be very beneficial when researching. I think the articles you chose work really well with your research project and you sound like you really understand them. I also really like how you chose to not only highlight keywords, but also themes, which is a great way to get an overall idea of the article as well as key points, which is perfect for our digital storytelling project.

Great work! - Jordan 

[jkageog2260]

Coding for Rural Geography

Hi everyone,

My group is focusing on rural geography for our digital storytelling project. I had many sources saved for this project, and I chose one peer reviewed journal and one basic national geographic article to compare the two and code them. 

Coding and Framing

I decided to code these two articles using a deductive method. I chose this because I personally work best using keywords. I find that when an entire page is highlighted, I get too overwhelmed and can’t figure out what is most important. I went into these articles with certain keywords in mind that I knew would help me with my digital story telling project. Deductive coding is when we start with a predefined set of codes and assign them to our qualitative data (Hooykaas, Week 8). The keywords I chose were:

1. Agriculture (yellow)

2. Politics/government (pink)

3. Development (green)

4. Theory (blue)

I then chose to apply a flat coding frame which allows each code to have the same level of significance (Hooykaas, Week 8). I chose this framing as I think I understand and work better with data that is all equally significant, and can be applied differently to your research. As I understand this may slow down decision making (Hooykaas, Week 8) however I would prefer to spend more time to ensure I am understanding everything correctly and that it is my best work. 

Application

I will be applying these two articles and this method of coding in the digital storytelling project as I found it a very useful way to gather information. I typically don’t highlight any of my articles when it comes to research, and thanks to this weeks blog post which pushed me to try something I had never done before, I will be applying it to my future work. Specifically for this project, since we are focusing on rural geography, I thought that the keywords of “agriculture, politics, development, and theories” would help further our research. We want to focus on what rural geography is, and how agriculture is affected by government policies and development. We want to apply different theoretical approaches to this as well which is why I included it in my research. I found this technique to be very helping and almost fun! 

References 

Clark, G. (1982). Developments in Rural Geography. Area, 14(3), 249-254. Retrieved March 10, 2021, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/20001831

Hooykaas, A. (2021). Week 8: Coding 

“Rural Area” (n.d.). Retrieved March 10, 2021, from https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/rural-area/ 

[jkageog2260]

Starting GEOG*2260

When I was picking my courses for this semester and saw that I had to take “Applied Human Geography”, I was instantly nervous. I have always been more interested in physical geography, I like learning about natural disasters, weather, etc. When I started my first year at Guelph I did not have a major, it was only after I took GEOG*1350 that I decided that I wanted to major in geography. I remember sitting in the BA office and being asked “do you prefer physical or human geography” and I immediately said physical. Since I had only taken a physical geography class, I was unaware of what human geography classes would be like.

I originally thought that I wouldn’t enjoy this class as much as my others, and that I wouldn’t do as well in it as it is something I wasn’t as good at. Thankfully, I was wrong. I have been enjoying this class more than I thought I would. I am still not too found of researching and research techniques, however I do this it is important to know so I am glad I am learning about it. I have also been enjoying writing and reading these blog posts. It is much nicer to be able to see pictures, videos, gifs and colour as opposed to writing on the discussion boards on courselink, this is the first class I’ve had using a different platform to communicate with my classmates and I love it. 

Overall, human geography isn’t as bad as I thought it was, and I actually enjoy learning about it. Since a majority of my classes are physical geography, I am constantly doing math and science, so being able to come to this class and not have to worry about any of that, and just be able to talk and discuss human geography is relaxing. 

What Next? 

As we are approaching the end of the semester (and the end of 2nd year for me), I am still faced with the question of what I want to do next. My answer is still: I have no idea! As much as I am enjoying this class, I still think I am more comfortable in physical geography. However, that doesn’t mean I won’t take another human geography course in the future as I now know what to expect. With physical geography, I still have no idea what I want to do with it after I graduate, and I know I still have 2 more years but this question is always lingering in the back of my mind. I thought I would ask, is anyone else in the same boat of not knowing what you want to do in the future? 

[amlgeog2260]

Interviewing a Key Thinker in Environmental Geography

Who am I Interviewing?

My digital storytelling project focuses on environmental geography. We will be taking a deep dive into this discipline and presenting its history, its importance, and its future. Not only is it something I am passionate about, but the contemporary issues that arise within environmental geography (such as climate change) are, in my opinion, the most important and threatening issues we are facing as a species today. If I had the opportunity to interview someone in this field, I would choose David Suzuki. David Suzuki is a Canadian scientist, broadcaster and a very important environmental activist1. I have personally been looking up to him since I was very little and would love nothing more than to sit down and have a conversation with him. David Suzuki has a non-profit organization in Canada that is dedicated to conserving and protecting the natural environment through research, education and policy analysis1. He is a key thinker in the field of environmental geography.

The Interview Questions

1. What does environmental geography mean to you, and what is your role within this field?

This first question is an example of a primary question, and would serve as an introduction to the theme of the interview2. This would also give me a definition of environmental geography from a key thinker in the field, as well as set up a basis for how he has impacted it.

2. In Canada, what do you think is the greatest threat our environment is facing?

The future of this field will be determined by the threats it faces and I would hope to get an idea of what is next in environmental geography based on David’s response to this question.

3. In your lifetime, what is an obstacle that has been overcome in regards to protecting the environment, and how was this achieved?

This question serves two purposes. I am interested in knowing the history of environmental geography from someone who has been involved in the field for decades, as well as trying to find some positivity, and hope for how we might address contemporary environmental issues.

4. If you had the power to change any existing piece of environmental legislation in Canada, what would you change and why?

This question would be posed to find out what Canadians should be focusing on right now regarding environmental activism.

5. Is there anything you would like to add, address, or discuss further that you think would be essential for me to know?

The final question would be left open like this because it puts the control into the hands of the interviewee/knowledge holder to tell me what I need to know about environmental geography.

Overview

This interview would be semi-structured so that the interviewee would have the opportunity to branch out from the questions I asked if they wanted to2. The first question was descriptive in nature so that I could introduce Dr. Suzuki to the interview gently2. All of the questions left room for further discussion if needed and the loose framework of this interview would make it a more relaxed and comfortable environment2.

References

1. David Suzuki. (n.d.). Retrieved March 01, 2021, from https://davidsuzuki.org/expert/david-suzuki/

2. Hooykaas, A. (2021). Week 6: Data Collection – Interviews, Oral Histories, Focus Groups. University of Guelph

[jkageog2260]

Hi! I really enjoyed reading your post. I think that David Suzuki is definitely a key thinker in environmental geography. I also agree with you in saying that I also looked up to Suzuki as a child and always kept up with him, which is good in getting the younger and future generations involved in environmental issues. I really like your first question by asking him his personal role in the field as he will have a lot of first hand experiences, which is important to have when conducting research like this. I also like the question you ended with as this gives Suzuki space to provide any key information that may have been left out due to the nature of your questions. The one suggestions that I would have to maybe improve your question would be for question #2 when you ask about the biggest threat to our environment specifically, maybe change it to asking something like ‘What is Canada’s biggest threat to our environment as opposed to other countries’. I think this can give us more information on our own country as we can see how it differs from others, and will give us a better understanding on how to combat it. Overall, I really enjoyed reading your thoughts and I’m excited to read more of your posts!

Take care, Jordan

[jkageog2260]

Interviewing Thelma Chalifoux

For our digital storytelling project my group is focusing on the topic of rural geography. When we asked ourselves, “what is rural geography?” many ideas came to mind. One that really stood out to me in particular was the focus on Canada’s Indigenous communities and the struggles they endure living in rural settings. I would want to focus on land rights, as well as access to food, education, and healthcare in Indigenous communities. If I could interview anyone, I would want to go back to before Thelma passed away so I could ask her questions about rural geography with a focus on Indigenous communities as I believe she is a major key thinker in regards to rural geography. Thelma was the first Indigenous and Metis person to be appointed to Canadian Senate, she worked very hard in fighting for Indigenous rights, helping many communities across Canada. Before interviewing Thelma, I would want to ensure I follow all ethical considerations such as asking for her consent to ask her questions and potentially share her answers with others, offer the option to not answer any questions etc. The following are the questions I would ask:

1. What does rural geography mean to you and how would you say it has affected your life? 

This question will help to provide first hand experience with rural geography from a key thinker in the field, by having her define rural geography, it may help us in answering our research question more accurately. 

2. What influenced you to get involved in the political side of rural geography and run for senate? 

Since Thelma was the first Indigenous and Metis person to be appointed to senate, it is fair to assume that she is an inspiration to many. By asking this question, we can establish the journey it took for her to reach this accomplishment and why she herself finds it important.

3. How have your past life experiences helped to influence your role in the Canadian Senate? 

This question will give some insight on Thelma’s personal life. I think it is important to have primary resources in all research, so by having Thelma account any struggles she faced living in an Indigenous rural community, we can use them to build our foundation for our research question. 

4. Do you personally believe that Canada is doing its job in providing Indigenous communities with basic human needs? 

In our research, we focused on the struggles faced in rural communities when it comes to things such as access to food, education, and healthcare. The information we had gathered came from online sources so I think it would be important and interesting to see the perspective of not only someone who may have faced these struggles, but is now helping to assist these communities. 

5. If you could change one thing in the Canadian Government, what would it be and why?

We are always looking for solutions to better the lives of the individuals living in rural communities, so I think by asking this question, we can get a better understanding of what the Canadian Government is doing about the situation and what the weakest point it so we can find resources to help. 

Summary 

Why these questions? I chose to ask Thelma these specific questions for a number of reasons. First, I think it is important to have primary resources in your research. As Thelma has experienced rural geography struggles in her life, as well as fought for Indigenous communities in the Canadian Government, I think she would have a lot of first-hand experiences that would be extremely detailed and helpful for our research. I also chose these questions as I wanted to give Thelma a chance to voice her personal opinion (if she is comfortable doing so) so we can focus on how to better these communities. By using methods highlighted in our textbook, I can ensure that this structured interviewed is conducted properly and ethically, making sure it flows well, uses different research techniques such as qualitative research and follows proper ethical considerations (Hay, 2016). 

References

Government of Canada; Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. (2019, May 31). Indigenous History-Makers. Retrieved from https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1559226684295/1559226709198

Hay, I (2016). Qualitative Research Methods in Human Geography, Toronto. Oxford University Press. 

[krgeog2260-deactivated20241207]

My Dream Research Project

My Proposal and Background:

My ultimate research project would be broadly centred around walkable communities, sustainability and its connection to the improvement of individuals’ health and climate change. Throughout my time as a student and media consumer, I’ve found an interest in creating spaces that enhance a group’s ability to live a healthy lifestyle and the aspects that come into that from the development level. I know there are research and work being done or analyzed already as this is not exactly a new concept. That being said, I would hope my work is substantial enough to be proposed to higher levels of municipal government or private companies in the city development sector, to show its significance and connection to their existing projects. A summarized version of initial observational findings and oral interviews would be the start of my proposal, and I would use historical data of climate change statistics and existing walking cities to highlight my focus of connecting the two variables.

There are locations such as Boston, Massachusetts or London England that have created an environment with a higher walkability score compared to other major cities (Armitage, 2018). Research shows a correlation between a person’s residence walkability score and their individual health. I want to build off that and create research and possible expansion plans.

Acorn Street, Boston, Massachusetts. 

Who would benefit from my research?

This project would theoretically benefit a huge demographic of anyone who resides or utilizes the walkable community. The demographics are not very limited in regard to criteria, allowing as many individuals as possible to live a healthier lifestyle and participate in the popularization of more sustainable living practices. In the long run, the goal would be to be a part of a project that changes the way development comes together or to shift old priorities to something more innovative and current.

Ethics:

Due to my research involving human participants and the examination of their quality of life, my work would need to go through a REB review process (Hooykaas, 2021). With my hopes of taking the findings to the municipal government level, research ethic clearance is necessary to ensure the safety of my participants and maintain the credibility of the work. While probably minimal, I would also need to take social or economic risk into consideration. Of course, we are always aiming for minimal risk within the ethical research world!

Example of a “Walkable City”

I would be using this project as a chance to enhance my research and leadership skills while working to create a city that I and like-minded people would really enjoy inhabiting. It would also answer a lot of my personal questions about my career because it would let me figure out if a career in city planning or qualitative research is something I want for myself.

Questions for my classmates:

Have you ever found yourself in a particularly walkable city? Did anything stand out to you?

Would you be inclined to settle in a walkable and more sustainable city, even if it might cost you a bit more?

Is the visual aspect of a city important to you? Why or why not?

References: 

Armitage, H. (2018). “The 10 Most Walkable Cities in the World”. Retrieved from: https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/usa/articles/the-10-most-walkable-cities-in-the-world/ 

Hay, I. (2016). Qualitative Research Methods in Human Geography.Toronto. Oxford University Press.

Hooykaas, A. “Ethics” University of Guelph, 2021.

[jkageog2260]

I love this idea! I had never really thought about walkability before reading your post, however I am now realizing that my hometown isn’t a very walkable town. I agree in saying that it is very important for our individual health to be able to access certain places from walking. I think even more now with the pandemic, people are wanting to be outside more, and go for walks. I remember at the beginning of quarantine I tried going for walks with my family but we were always stuck with where to go that was easy to access and enjoyable (not just sidewalks beside very busy streets). I like the picture you included of an example of a “walkable city” as it is refreshing to see lots of greenery, especially in the centers of cities where it is usually mainly concrete.

I really enjoyed your post, take care! - Jordan Anderson

[jkageog2260]

Saving our Oceans

My Ultimate Research Project

If I was given the opportunity to conduct a research project with limitless resources, I would want to work on cleaning up our ocean/beaches and find new techniques to avoid the pollution of our oceans. I have always loved being near the ocean, and would always make sure to be respectful and aware of my surroundings whenever near one. 

STOCKPHOTO-GRAF/SHUTTERSTOCK 

Focus

My main focus would be to target the pollutants being pumped into the ocean, as well as the pollutants crowding our beaches. I think it is important to address both of these issues as they play a role in each other. The pollutants being pumped directly into the oceans severely affect our marine life, and the pollutants being washed up on our shores are affecting not only us, but also some marine life as well. When a beach is packed full of garbage on the shore, it makes it extremely difficult for animals such as sea turtles to come and sun bathe, which will therefore drive them away from certain locations or possibly contribute to the decline in population. 

Proposal

I would want to work hard to get as many countries involved in this research project as possible. After watching the documentary on the Kiribati Islands, the residents living there stated how other countries are to blame for the pollution, yet are doing nothing to help, and that things could be solved if more countries were willing to help (AJ+, 2014). I think bringing attention to the large corporations that are the main contributors will give us a chance to show the damage being done by them and hopefully get them on board to help. I want to create techniques to decrease ocean pollution such as new green renewable energy sources (wind, water etc). I think ethics play a role in this as these large corporations will see the damage they are doing to our oceans, and their morals will play a role in if they are willing to help. I would make sure to include vulnerable populations are ensure there is no exclusion or exploitation to make sure that every country is represented equally and that the research is ethical and fair (Hooykaas, 2021).

4Ocean

I would want to work with organizations such as 4Ocean, as their mission is “We’re here to clean the ocean and coastlines while working to stop the inflow of plastic by changing consumption habits” (4Ocean, 2021). Working with organizations can be very beneficial as they have an established team and have existing support from people all over the world. 

Who Will Benefit?

I think that people all over the world will benefit from a research project like mine. Our land is surrounded by oceans, and ocean pollution affects every part of the world. Smaller islands such as the Kiribati Islands will benefit greatly as their home will be cleaned up and efforts will be made to decrease any more pollution. Marine wildlife will benefit greatly as their home will also be cleaned up, making it easier for them to live in and out of the water. Everyone involved in this research will benefit as we will be making a change for our world.

Myself as a Researcher

In 10 years. being a researcher was never my dream job, however after doing this blog post I am definitely more interested in research. I obviously have limited resources and time right now and I still managed to learn a lot and come up with some ideas so I can only imagine how much more I could do in 10 years with more experience, resources, and time. 

References

AJ+ (2014, December 8). Kiribati: The Sinking Islands Being Destroyed By Climate Change. AJ+ Docs [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9P7jXveokDY

Hooykaas (2021)

About Us. (2021). Retrieved from https://www.4ocean.com/pages/about 

[mygeog2260-deactivated20210704]

This VICE documentary explores themes of wilderness living and experience through interviews with several people who live and work in the Sayan mountain region of Siberia. The main focus is Agafia Lykov, a woman who has lived off the land for 70 years. Her family was a part of a larger movement of Old Believers, a sect of orthodox Christianity, which fled persecution under Stalin by settling in remote regions of Siberia. Following their deaths, she has been self-sufficient for 25 years. The documentary follows her as she completes her daily chores and includes interviews about her thoughts and impressions on various subjects. They also include interviews with her nearest neighbor and several government park workers, who discuss what living in this area means to them and how it affects their daily life. The documentary producers ultimately conclude that Agafia’s experiences support the idea that humans are capable of surviving alone in the wilderness for extended periods.

The documentary makers use interviews as their main research technique. They seem to use two different types of interviewing techniques. They do formal individual and group interviews where they ask the participant(s) specific questions, such as the discussion about what the landscape of Siberia means to one of the park rangers or about Agafia’s thoughts on visiting the city. They also use an oral history technique with Agafia, where she discusses her family history, several significant events in her life, and how she lives currently. They then combine this with touring around her house and the surrounding area to look at the physical aspects of her life.

The documentary filmmakers do not directly reference their own backgrounds but do include several visual clues about where they come from and who they are. While discussing how they got to Agafia’s homestead they show their city of departure is New York City in the US and make several comments about the local town not being a “modern metropolis”. Additionally, they make it clear they don’t share Agafia’s religious beliefs or language.

Beyond this there seems to be a focus on a very specific definition of what wilderness means and how this relates to personal values during the course of the documentary, even if it contradicts what was stated by the participants. For example, the filmmakers conclude the documentary with the idea that Agafia is proof that humans are capable of living alone in the wilderness. However, Agafia makes several points during her interviews that she needed other people to trade supplies with and we see that she has established working relationships with her neighbour, the park rangers, and Russian media. She also states that her life is very difficult and she needs someone to come help her to survive. These factors don’t really seem to support the filmmaker’s final interpretation in this documentary. Ultimately, this film seems to conform to colonial research practices. This is defined as “research… that maintains distance from, and domination of, the marginalized “others” that it seeks to study and that denies the validity of their knowledge, ways of knowing, experience, and concerns.” (Hay, p. 439)  The film also focuses on themes of commodification of resources and civilization, which are common focuses in colonial research.

However, I think part of this dissonance stems from the method they are using to communicate this story. When making a film that is interesting and is focused on keeping a viewer engaged you need to have some sort of narrative and an emotional hook to draw people into the story. The technical and ethical details that are part of doing qualitative research get left behind because they don’t contribute to the overall story. For example, we see the filmmakers bring Agafia a goat and rooster which may be a method of payment for sharing her life with them or as a polite way to introduce themselves but they don’t really go into why they have chosen to approach her this way or what ethical considerations they made before interviewing her. There are also a couple of interview questions that seem to make Agafia uncomfortable and I have to wonder if they really consulted her before adding that to their film. The part where they ask about the relationship between Agafia and her neighbour Yerofei and discuss “a sinful” act that Yerofei did does not seem like it would be something either of them would want shared to over 6 million people and could potentially cause personal issues between them as a result.

If I was to going to research the family and then communicate what I had learned I would probably not choose to do it through a film. Ideally, I would want to produce something that would also be accessible or desirable for Agafia, as she would be the main source of knowledge and this research would likely require that I either live or interact with her for extended periods of time. As she does not really like technology, it might be better to present my findings through writing. However, there are several ethical issues that would be involved if I was doing the research. My identity would probably be a drawback. I don’t speak Russian and I don’t really have any experience with living off the land. Both of these factors can be overcome but would require a large time investment and as a student researcher it would be unlikely that I would have that available.

References

Hay, I (Ed.). (2016). Qualitative Research Methods in Human Geography (4th edition). Oxford University Press.

[jkageog2260]

Hi! I really enjoyed reading your perspective on this documentary. I really like the point you brought up as I didn’t even realize it until I read your post. Throughout the film, Agafia stated multiple times how it is very hard work on her own and there are some things she can not do due to her age and that she does need help, however the researchers concluded the film by saying Agafia is a perfect example of how humans can survive alone in the wild. You chose a very good quote from our textbook as this is exactly what the VICE researchers did. 

I also like the ethical considerations you brought up. The only thing they mentioned about the goat and rooster was that they were on Agafia’s “bucket list” but how did they know that? I would’ve liked to know as well why they went with that approach to the situation. As well as the consent portion which I mentioned in my post as well as you could clearly see she was uncomfortable yet they included it in the documentary, but did they get her permission and did they describe the extent in which this information would be shared? Did they tell her that millions of people would be hearing and seeing this information or did they downplay it? I asked myself these questions as well so it is great to see that someone else was thinking the same thing.

Great post! Take care! - Jordan Anderson

[smkgeog2260]

Agafia Lykov as She Survives The Siberian Wilderness

    Agafia Lykov, a 70-year-old woman doing what seems like the impossible and living in the Siberian wilderness for her whole life. The Lykov family had to flee due to the fear of Stalin and what would have happened if they stayed. Staying where they were, could have even led to death for them. Agafia’s father moved them to a remote and secluded area that was around a 7-day canoe ride from a near but far city. This remote wilderness was full of bears and wolves with a slim growing season. The family had gone 40 years with no other human contact until a group of geologists discovered them from a helicopter. Although it was a remarkable day for everyone, it ended in a shock when three siblings of Agafia had passed away from an illness the geologists were carrying at the time. As time went by, Agafia’s father passed away and Agafia lived alone until 1997 when a geologist Yerofei Sedov moved close to her, just down the hill in a cabin. As the documentary continues, it is obvious that Agafia wished that she had more help as Yerofei is limited with only one leg. To this day, Agafia still lives there in her remote cabin.

The Invisible Backpack

When thinking about an invisible backpack of the documentary filmmakers, the first thing that I think of is all of the modern-day advantages that they have. For Agafia, she must use the resources around her to the best of her ability but for the members of the documentary, these things may come easier, such as food, water, clothes, etc. Even for this trip, they would be more equipped with things such as technology.

Ethical Considerations

As I watched the film and considered the ethics around it all, it seemed that the filmmakers and members did a good job altogether. It seems their main goal was to capture the amazing and almost unbelievable life of Agafia. It was interesting watching them learn and take in Agafia’s way of living all together and how free she is in the wilderness. As they learned the ways of her life, they also were mindful not to do anything disrespectful or out of place from what I saw of the film.

If I Had Done This Research

If I was given the same opportunity as the researchers in the documentary, I think I would use similar methods to them. For me, I think observing Agafia as she went about her day and she was able to explain things here and there was sufficient without her changing too much of her daily routine. Without disturbing Agafia’s daily life, it would be interesting to learn about the smaller details such as how hard it is to get food and what that process is like. As I am privileged in the sense I grew up with modern technology and a good education in Canada, I would need to remember this throughout any research. As Agafia was born into the siberian wilderness, she has an advantage on the ‘how’ to survive in these conditions. While thinking about living in the same conditions as Agafia, I find myself wondering about all the things I use on a day-to-day basis that would be impractical in the remote wilderness.

References

Vice. (2013, April 9). Surviving in the Siberian Wilderness for 70 Years 

[jkageog2260]

I really enjoyed reading your post! I completely agree with you in saying that if we were given the same opportunity, you would focus in on the smaller details of her life such as how she gathers her food. When I was watching the documentary that was my first thought and they didn’t really touch too much on it. I think I remember them saying she fishes but by watching the documentary it didn’t look like there was any body of water near her so I wonder how she went about that. I also would love to learn about how she grows and harvests vegetables. As important I think the larger stories are to the overall view of Agafia’s life, I also think it’s the smaller details that can really pull watchers in and create the most interesting points. I also like the point you brought up about the different skills Agafia has compared to us. I agree in that most of our skills would be useless to Agafia as she does not need to know how to work a computer or drive a car to survive the Sayan Mountains. However, I think her unique survival skills could benefit us even though we live in such different climates, her overall outlook on life can be very interesting to apply to our lives.

Take care! - Jordan Anderson

[jkageog2260]

Surviving the Taiga: Agafia Lykov

Agafia Lykov

Agafia Lykov is an Old Believer Orthodox Christian is living off of the land in the Sayan Mountains of Siberia (Taiga). Her family of Old Believers fled to the mountains in 1936 in fear of oppression and death from Stalin. They lived in isolation and lived off of the land for 40 years until they first saw visitors. A group of geologists visited and brought illness to Agafia’s family, killing her three older siblings and leaving her to live on her own. Agafia has only been into the city in Russia five times and only rarely has visitors come to her. She lives near and takes care of Yerofei who is her neighbour. 

Research

The producers of this VICE documentary used a couple different research methods in this documentary. They conducted interviews and used qualitative research methods. They ask Agafia questions about her daily life and how she survives off of the land. They allow Agafia to share her stories and recite her prayers. They recorded these interviews as well as Agafia going about her day and doing chores, some of the researchers even assisted her in her daily activities such as cutting down a tree and shovelling snow. 

Invisible Backpack 

I found that the interviewers carried an invisible backpack. They had the privilege to visit her home, and they were men coming from a city with much more access to basic needs such as food, water and shelter and I found that they didn’t really mention this. I would say that this invisible backpack is indirect as the interviewers did not discuss their privilege before visiting and how they were English speaking men with the technology and money needed to create this documentary, none of which Agafia has. 

Ethics 

When conducting a research project such as this one, there are many ethical considerations that need to be made before, during, and after the production. I feel as though VICE took into account some of these considerations, and also ignored some. When arriving, they landed in a helicopter with all of their supplies. While this may be the easiest way to get there, they should take into consideration how Agafia travels with no quick access to helicopters or vehicles. They brought her a goat and a rooster, which she had previously asked for, when arriving in exchange for her stories. I think it would be quite intimidating see a group of men with tons of technological equipment arrive when once visitors killed most of her family. The interviewers stayed in tents as to not disturb Agafia. They were respectful for the most part of letting her continue to do her daily chores such as gather fire wood, pray, and make food. They even helped her cut down a tree and transport the wood back to her home to make it easier for her. A majority of the questions they asked her were respectful until they reached the discussion about Yerofei. She clearly stated she did not want to talk about it and it made her uncomfortable yet they kept asking questions to try and get more answers out of her. There is also the conversation of how this interview benefitted her. VICE gained a lot of popularity on this documentary as well as money and in doing so shared Agafia’s stories to the whole world. It was not mentioned in the video if she fully consented to all this information being published for millions to see as there is some personal stories as well as her space/location being shared. 

My Approach 

If I was given this opportunity, I would make some changes to how I would approach this visit. Firstly, I want to recognize my privilege as a Canadian university student, which gives me access to knowledge that Agafia may not have, as well as living in a city with easy access to food, water, and other basic human necessities. I would outline all of my key ethical considerations before arriving so I was always aware of them. I would want to respect all of Agafia’s boundaries and ensure that I was not invading her space or interrupting her daily routines. Before visiting, I would want to make sure I am in perfect health and take all the precautions to avoid passing anything to Agafia as she has already been through once in her life that resulted in the loss of her siblings. I would make sure that all of my research questions had a purpose and that she was comfortable answering them and consented to it being posted. I would like to ask her more about her history and her life experiences so we could have a better understanding of her life. After the research I would want to ensure that everything uploaded was true and unedited so her story would not be filtered or altered in any way. 

References

Vice (2013). “Surviving in the Siberian Wilderness for 70 Years.” Youtube. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tt2AYafET68 

[jkageog2260]

Helping Kiribati

After watching the “Kiribati: The Sinking Islands Being Destroyed By Climate Change” documentary, I now have some understanding as to what is currently happening in the Kiribati Islands. 

Role of Power

To start, I will briefly discuss the importance of the role of power in this research. As this beautiful island is currently facing the harsh impacts of climate change, it is very important that the research being done is accurate and helpful. As a Canadian, I must acknowledge the privilege of Canada not having to deal with this specific issue currently. We must look at the difference in socioeconomic/wealth between myself as the researcher and the participants, the people of Kiribati. I acknowledge that Canada has more resources and funding for issue related to climate change and that it may be easier for a country like Canada to get help from other countries. I also recognize that coming from a different country I may have different knowledge and different techniques that can be applied in these situations. 

Objectivity, Subjectivity, Intersubjectivity 

Considering these three factors for myself as a researcher, the role of subjectivity may be useful in this research as our textbook described subjectivity as “involves the insertion of personal opinions and characteristics into research practice” (Hay, 2016). I could use my own personal opinions to help generate ideas on what we can do in this research to help. Objectivity may relate more to quantitative research and is emphasized in geographic discussions (Hooykaas, 2021). This may be helpful with smaller things like gathering statistics, numbers and data but overall isn’t as important as subjectivity as we can use that to begin to make plans. Intersubjectivity is defined as you as the researcher, the participants (people of Kiribati) and your interactions will stay unchanged during research (Hooykass, 2021).

How will I help?

I would begin by taking a historical approach to this research as in the documentary it is explained how historically important some of the buildings and the land were and the local residents mentioned how much they want to preserve their land (AJ+, 2014). I think it is very important to look at the history and culture in this research to get a better understanding of how important it is to preserve. Looking at qualitative research, we can see how climate change is affecting the residents socially and mentally. The documentary showcases a young girl living on the islands while her family prepares to move her to New Zealand for a better life, and she mentions how she is excited yet sad to leave her land and family (AJ+, 2014). 

My first action would be to start involving other countries. As mentioned in the documentary, Kiribati has 0 carbon emissions, and therefore can not cut down any (AJ+, 2014). We need to pull together other countries who are the ones creating the carbon emissions and create a plan to cut them down to combat climate change. If we can start by getting other countries involved, I think more resources will be available to Kiribati such as ways to maintain clean water and combat the trash being washed in from the rising sea levels. I think that the more people/countries we can get involved the better.

References

AJ+ (2014, December 8). Kiribati: The Sinking Islands Being Destroyed By Climate Change | AJ+ Docs [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9P7jXveokDY

Hooykaas, A. (2021)

Hay, I. (2016). Power, Subjectivity, and Ethics in Qualitative Research. In QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS IN HUMAN GEOGRAPHY. S.l.: OXFORD UNIV PRESS.

[jkageog2260]

These are some of my favourite landscape pictures I took in Maui!