Comparative Island Research, Spatial and Location Analysis Methods and Applications (GEO- ISLANDS 712)

This course introduces comparative research as a methodology for conducting case study and comparative analysis for environmental, ecological, social and economic systems. It addresses three key questions: (a) why comparative research? (b) why islands for comparative research? (c) which topics can be addressed? 

Comparative research, unlike many current epistemological paradigms in socioecological studies, tends to be less “ipso-facto” and teleological (i.e. explaining what has happened only after it has happened and adjusting the tools and methods to facilitate this). It tends to be more descriptive rather than prescriptive, using case studies and taking into account their specificities, similarities and differences. This is not to suggest that all claims towards “representativeness” are dropped, but rather that each case study can provide insight s and lessons for both similarities and differences. Comparative research may not be optimal for all studies and disciplines, but it can be extremely useful and straightforward in highlighting the specificities and wide range of socioecological research.

With comparative research we utilize comparisons. These comparisons are relevant when indeed what we seek to compare is comparable, or we can treat it to make it so. Through these comparisons we seek to (a) describe phenomena or processes in their socioecological context; (b) explain these phenomena and processes, (c) arrive at broader understandings about these phenomena and processes.

Islands are ideal for comparative research:

• Size-wise there is significant variety of size (area and population), but they are easier to define, describe, classify and compare.
• Input – output wise, flows towards and from islands are easier to define and measure.
• They can be treated as isolated but also parts of greater local and global networks.

The variety of topics is very large, including, environmental, socioecological, economic and cultural. Some approaches can use indexes and indicators, simple or composite, while other can apply more qualitative approaches, while mixed approaches are also possible.

In this course, the basic concepts will be introduced and examples of different approaches will be presented. Students will be asked to do their own comparative research.