Research Design and Proposal Writing in Spatial Science [3 ed.] 9783030600181, 9783030600198

Table of contents :
Foreword
Acknowledgements
Contents
Authors and Model Proposal Contributors
1 Spatial Science and Its Traditions
1.1 What is Spatial Science?
1.2 The Place of the Spatial Science
1.3 Spatialized Disciplines
1.3.1 Spatial Science Beyond the Academy
1.4 The Scientific Method and Other Ways of Knowing
1.4.1 Empiricism
1.4.2 Logical-Positivism
1.4.3 Behavioralism
1.4.4 Humanism
1.4.5 Structuralism and Post-Structuralism
1.5 Organization of the Book
1.6 Closing Thoughts
References
2 Literature Reviews
2.1 The Process
2.2 Finding the Literature
2.3 Conceptual and Methodological Reviews
2.4 The Write Up
2.5 Narrowing
2.6 Differentiating the Purpose of the Literature Review
2.7 MA/MS Thesis
2.8 Doctoral Dissertation
2.9 Research Articles
2.10 Review Articles
2.11 Conclusion
References
3 Research Questions
3.1 Importance of Research Questions
3.2 Identifying Research Questions
3.3 Qualities of an Effective Research Question and Hypothesis
3.4 Types of Research Questions
3.5 New Ways of Thinking
3.6 “Bonding” with One’s Research Objectives
3.7 Conclusion
References
4 Data and Methods in Spatial Science
4.1 Understanding Data
4.2 The Hierarchy of Data Sources
4.3 Quantitative and Qualitative Data
4.3.1 Intensive and Extensive Approaches in Spatial Science
4.4 Ethics in Data Collection
4.5 Big Data, Data Science and Data Mining
4.6 Sampling and Statistics
4.7 How to Present the Data and Analysis Portions of Your Study
4.8 Conclusion
References
5 Graduate Degree Proposals
5.1 Graduate Committee
5.2 Topic Selection
5.2.1 Proposals are Contracts
5.3 Graduate Proposal Structure
5.3.1 Literature Review
5.3.2 Methods
5.3.3 Expected Results and Conclusions
5.3.4 Preliminary Studies
5.4 Proposal Defense
5.4.1 Presentation
5.4.2 Rethinking Thesis and Dissertations: Innovations and Challenges
5.5 Conclusion
References
6 Grants and Grant Writing
6.1 Opportunity and Challenge
6.2 Extramural Grants and Funding Agencies
6.2.1 RFPs and NRAs
6.2.2 Proposal Review
6.2.3 Funding Cycles
6.2.4 Foundations and Fellowships
6.3 Contracts
6.4 Sheltered Competitions & Earmarks
6.5 Intramural Grants
6.6 Administration of Grants and Contracts
6.7 Proposal Structure
6.7.1 Project Summary
6.7.2 Introduction
6.7.3 Literature Review and Background
6.7.4 Methods
6.7.5 Expected Results
6.7.6 Budget and Budget Justification
6.7.7 References
6.7.8 CVs and Bio-Sketches
6.8 Dissemination of Results
6.9 Final Agency Reports
6.10 How to Deal with Rejection
Reference
7 Disseminating Research
7.1 Traditional Formats
7.1.1 Presentations
7.1.2 Posters
7.1.3 Articles
7.1.4 Proceedings
7.1.5 Research Notes
7.1.6 Monographs
7.2 Emerging Venues
7.2.1 E-Journals
7.2.2 Working Papers and Technical Reports
7.2.3 Information Sharing
7.2.4 Illustrated Papers
7.2.5 Web Research Aggregators and Resources
7.3 Outreach
7.4 The Problem with Spatial Science Research
References
8 Reflections on Proposal Writing in Spatial Science
References
9 Model Proposals
9.1 Online Resources
10 Thesis I: Human Systems
10.1 Research Questions
10.2 Evansville and Green Policy
10.3 Literature Review
10.3.1 Human-Environment Interactions
10.3.2 Supervised Classification
10.3.3 Normalized Difference Vegetation Index
10.3.4 Regression Analysis
10.4 Study Area
10.5 Methods and Analysis
10.5.1 Remote Sensing
10.5.2 GIS
10.6 Expected Results
References
Refelection
11 Thesis II: Human Systems-Mixed Methods
11.1 Understanding Forestry Policies in Malaysia
11.2 Conceptual Framework
11.3 Research Questions
11.4 Research Methods
11.4.1 Data Collection
11.4.2 Data Analysis
11.5 Feasibility Assessment
Appendix I—Timeline
Appendix II—Budget
References
Reflection
12 Dissertation I: Human–Environment Interactions
12.1 Statement of Purpose
12.2 Literature Review
12.2.1 Spatial Distribution
12.2.2 Political Ecology of Environmental Disamenities
12.2.3 Social Movements
12.2.4 Environmental Activism
12.2.5 Place Attachment
12.2.6 Social Capital
12.2.7 Race
12.2.8 The Environment Speaks: Agency of the Non-human
12.2.9 Non-human Agency and Local Knowledge
12.3 Summary and Contributions
12.3.1 Hypotheses
12.4 Data and Methodology
12.4.1 Study Areas
12.4.2 Quantitative Analysis: GIS and Environmental Justice
12.4.3 Environmental Disamenities
12.4.4 Qualitative Analyses: Historical Assessment of Study Areas
12.4.5 Perceptions of Risks and Health Outcomes
12.4.6 Drivers of Activism
12.4.7 Qualitative Geographic Information Systems
12.5 Expected Results
12.5.1 Non-human Factors
12.5.2 Perceptions, Place, Race, and Social Capital
12.6 Implications
References
Reflection
13 Dissertation II: Geo-Techniques
13.1 Accuracy of Neural Network Classifiers in Humid Tropical Areas
13.1.1 Problem Statement
13.1.2 Limitations of Current Classifiers
13.1.3 Alternative Classifiers
13.1.4 Special Feature Extraction
13.1.5 Adaptation to New Sensors
13.1.6 Objectives and Hypotheses
13.1.7 Development of Neural Networks
13.1.8 Previous Knowledge of Neural Network Classifiers
13.1.9 Applications of Neural Networks in Tropical Land Cover Study
13.1.10 Study Area
13.1.11 Remotely Sensed Data
13.1.12 Hybridized Approach
13.1.13 Expected Results
References
Reflection
14 Dissertation III: Physical Systems
14.1 Variation in Wetland Stream Morphology
14.2 Literature Review
14.2.1 The Kankakee Watershed
14.2.2 Identification of Possible Study Streams
14.2.3 Site One: Fish Creek
14.3 Methods
14.3.1 Field Surveying of Streams
14.4 Specific Morphological Feature Comparisons
14.4.1 Planform Morphology
14.4.2 Additional Planform Morphology Relationships
14.4.3 Cross-Section Morphology
14.4.4 Additional Cross-Section Morphology Relationships
14.4.5 Bed Morphology
14.4.6 Additional Bed Morphology Relationships
14.5 Evaluation Procedure
References
Reflection
15 Extramural Grant I: Collaborative Research and Outreach
15.1 Earth and Energy Systems: GLOBE Protocol Research and Outreach, NSF GLOBE Program
15.2 Objectives
15.3 Background
15.3.1 Our Team
15.3.2 Global Change and Remote Sensing Workshop and Student Observation Program
15.3.3 Cloud Awareness Webcast
15.4 Scientific Investigations
15.4.1 Surface Temperatures
15.4.2 Clouds
15.4.3 Cloud Cover Versus Snow Cover
15.4.4 Soil Temperature and Soil Moisture
15.5 Student Observations
15.5.1 Cloud Cover and Cloud Type
15.5.2 Snow
15.5.3 Air Temperature
15.5.4 Surface Temperature
15.5.5 Soil Protocols
15.5.6 Soil Temperature
15.5.7 Soil Moisture
15.5.8 Advanced: Continuous Air Temperature and Soil Temperature Monitoring
15.5.9 Evaluation of New and Modified Protocols
15.6 Educational Observations
15.6.1 Relevance to School Curriculum at Selected Grade Levels
15.6.2 Expected Learning Outcomes
15.6.3 NSF Results from Prior Support
15.6.4 Management Plan and Timeline
References
Reflection
16 Extramural Grant II: Instrumentation
16.1 Acquisition of AISA+ Hyperspectral Sensor
16.1.1 Remote Sensing Technologies
16.1.2 Remote Sensing at Indiana State University
16.1.3 Current Research at Indiana State University
16.1.4 Impact of Infrastructure Projects
16.1.5 Utilization Plan
References
Reflection
17 Extramural III: Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grant
17.1 Long-Term Reconstruction of Oak Mast in the Southern Appalachian Region
17.1.1 Background
17.1.2 Research Objectives
17.1.3 Study Area and Methods
17.1.4 Significance of Research
References
Reflection
18 Extramural IV: Training and Development
18.1 Building Capacity for Geospatial Technologies in Tanzania: A Collaboration Between BYU and the College of African Wildlife Management
18.2 Partnership Overview
18.2.1 Partnering Institution
18.2.2 BYU-CAWM University Relations
18.2.3 Partnership Design
18.2.4 Project Leadership Team
18.3 Collaboration Timeline
18.4 Description of Partnership Activities
18.4.1 Workshop Content Areas and Instructional Strategies
18.4.2 Description of Activities
18.5 Project Evaluation
18.6 Anticipated Results
References
Reflection
19 Extramural V: Non-profit Organizations
19.1 World Atlas of Beer
19.2 Budget Narrative
19.2.1 Geographic Locations of Fieldwork
Reflection
20 Intramural Grants
20.1 The Politics of Weather: Voter Turnout in Kentucky
20.1.1 Objective
20.1.2 Literature
20.1.3 Study Area
20.1.4 The Data
20.1.5 The Model
20.1.6 Anticipated Results
References
Reflection