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A qualitative method for collecting spatial data on important places for recreation, livelihoods, and ecological meanings: Integrating focus groups with public participation geographic information systems

Formally Refereed

Abstract

The association between humans and their environments is highly interactive, with humans bound to the landscapes and landscapes subject to the actions of humans. Sense of place is a concept used to describe the relationships that exist, bonds that form, and the meanings that humans ascribe to landscapes. This article builds on pre- vious qualitative research using public participation geographic information systems (PPGIS) to develop an alternative and efficient methodology to spatially represent place. The approach integrates participatory mapping procedures within a focus group format. Benefits of this approach include the rich text uncovered in qualitative place studies; the synergy of dialogue, efficiency in sampling, ability to elicit infor- mation from a range of groups; and the efficient use of drawn polygons as part of the qualitative PPGIS mapping procedure. This methodology can provide pertinent and spatially explicit findings useful for place based planning and management.

Keywords

geographic information systems, mapping, methods, public participation, qualitative

Citation

Lowery, Damon R.; Morse, Wayde C. 2013. A qualitative method for collecting spatial data on important places for recreation, livelihoods, and ecological meanings: Integrating focus groups with public participation geographic information systems. Society and Natural Resources 26: 1422-1437. 18 p.
Citations
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/48340