THE GEOGRAPHICAL METHODOLOGY AND ITS 4 MAIN PRINCIPLES - GEOGRAPHY - 2024

For the teaching of geographic methodology, “it is very important to keep in mind at all times a series of issues such as the movements of the Earth and their geographical consequences; the exact location of a point on the surface of the globe in latitude and longitude; the location of the equator and the tropics (…), the way of reading and interpreting a map, the agents that modify the land relief… ”(Valera, 2012).

The methodology is a way of covering, studying and analyzing certain scientific events. According to authors such as Fidias Arias, the phenomena that have occurred and studied in society can also be considered a science, as long as they are verifiable, systematically organized and methodologically obtained knowledge. (Arias, 2004).

In this sense, then science is divided into formal sciences and factual or applicable sciences, the latter in turn is divided into: natural sciences, applied sciences and social sciences. The formal sciences include studies such as mathematics, logic, and linguistics.

The factual sciences, in the branch of natural sciences, encompasses all studies of physics, chemistry, biology and health sciences. As for applied science, the best example of what he studies is engineering.

The social sciences include historical studies, economics, sociology, communication, art, psychology, and what is most interesting at this time: geography.

Principles of geographic methodology

Geography studies everything related to the causes and consequences of different geographical problems in the world, or a particular area. This branch has as its main theory that all geographic phenomena and problems are closely related to each other.

Alexander Humbolt and Carl Ritter are regarded as the fathers of geography and were the first scholars to apply this type of investigative method.

The main factors to take into consideration are:

• Location and distribution principle
• Principle of universalization, comparison or generalization
• Connection or coordination principle
• Principle of evolution and dynamism

Location and distribution principle

The first thing that must exist when conducting an investigation with geographic methodology is to apply the principle of location and distribution, which is based on the orientation of the geographic facts and the spatial analysis of the same fact.

For this principle, the main geographical instrument to use is the map, constituting an excellent tool for any type of geographical study.

It is the main thing that has to be done, since any scientific analysis will emerge from there. For this author, without location there can be no geographic study. (Valera, 2012).

Principle of universalization, comparison or generalization

In this principle we speak of the search, comparison and description of similar processes that may be happening in any other part of the world, taking as reference the principle of location, carried out in the first place.

It is called the principle of General Geography, according to its own creator and founder of modern French geography: P. Vidal de la Blache.

"The application of this principle is very important: the comparison of phenomena in different parts of the earth's surface allows us to individualize, highlight the personality of certain facts and, above all, generalize." (Valera, 2012).

As a practical example, the comparison and analogy of certain landscapes and climates can be made through the Internet, understanding in this way what is the dominant temperature in certain regions of the world and knowing the differences between a tropical, polar and a Mediterranean climate.

Connection or coordination principle

This is considered the most important principle and was originally thought by Ritler and applied in the geographical method by his disciples.

As mentioned above, the fundamental statement of geography is the relationship between geographical phenomena and in this principle the theory is applied.

First, it is imperative to understand the content of the object that is being studied. Afterwards, the phenomena should be studied taking into account each of their connections with other objects, in addition to their influences.

At the same time, the previous principle (connection or coordination) should be applied and each of the factors taken into consideration. As a result, an understanding of all the causes and consequences that affect that particular phenomenon must be taken into account.

Principle of evolution and dynamism

It should be understood that the Earth we live on is constantly evolving and changing, and although current phenomena are studied, we always have to go back a bit to better understand the phenomenon that is being studied.

This principle is of special importance, since soils have changed, cities have diversified, expanded and modernized. This helps to understand how this process of systematic evolution has occurred.

Valera, in a broader and more accurate way, explains it as follows: “The principle can be explained as follows: to arrive at a complete explanation of the current facts of the earth's surface, its evolution must be taken into account, both about physical phenomena (resort to geology) as in relation to human activity (resort to history). A geographical phenomenon is always a link in a long chain. Thus, it is impossible to explain the Spanish agrarian landscapes without going back to the confiscation of the lands, decreed by Mendizábal in 1836. " (Valera, 2012).

Obviously, the geographer should not become an expert in geology or history, he should simply study the most important facts of his interest and that are in line with the upcoming research to be carried out.

Other methods for studying geography

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2. Bigman, D and Fofack, H. (2000). Geographical Targeting for Poverty Alleviation: Methodology and Applications.
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4. Ramos, L, and Goihman, S. (1989). Geographical stratification by socio-economic status: methodology from a household survey with elderly people in S. Paulo, Brazil. Revista de Saúde Pública, 23 (6), 478-492. doi: 10.1590 / S0034-89101989000600006.
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