Cultural geography, its idiosyncrasies and possibilities

Abstract

Sets out to show why cultural geographers have rarely exhibited a predilection for applied research. The dimension of time forces one to view data not as an end in and of themselves, but as part of some amorphous, unfolding continuum. Likewise, a joint emphasis on cultural artifacts stresses place over space and explanations gravitate toward the probable rather than the exact. For these reasons, cultural geographers have been less willing to study "objective' "facts', preferring, instead, immediate experience. The author does, however, give ample instances where cultural geographers have done useful, decision- and problem-oriented research, concluding that while this approach is beneficial, an academic discipline should never put undue weight on applied, contract-based efforts. -from Editor