The scientific method consists of systematic observation, formulation, testing and revision of hypotheses. Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Remote Sensing, Global Positioning Systems (GPS), and online mapping such as Google Earth.
What Geographers Do. Geographers study the earth and its land, features, and inhabitants. They also examine phenomena such as political or cultural structures as they relate to geography. They study the physical and human geographic characteristics of a region, ranging in scale from local to global. 1 Economic geographers study economic activities and the distribution of resources. 2  They may research subjects such as regional employment or the location of industries. 3  Environmental geographers research the impact humans have on the environment and how human activities affect natural processes. Geography (from Greek γεωγραφία, geographia, lit. earth description) is a field study of the lands, the features, the inhabitants, and the phenomena of Earth. A literal translation would be to describe or picture or write about the earth. The first person to use the word geography was Eratosthenes (276–194 BC). Four historical traditions in geographical research are spatial analysis of the natural and the human phenomena (geography as the study of distribution), area studies (places and regions), study of the human-land relationship, and research in the Earth sciences. Determine the methods used to test our hypothesis is the next step. There are a variety of quantitative and qualitative methods to test our hypothesis. One could calculate the average precipitation for the western and eastern slopes and apply a difference of means test (t-test). Data collection. The steps in geographic inquiry are embodied in the scientific method. The scientific method consists of systematic observation, formulation, testing and revision of hypotheses. If a hypothesis withstands the scrutiny of repeated experimentation and review it may be elevated to a theory. Methods and Branches. Geography is a synoptic science that uses the same elements as the other sciences but in a different context. It integrates data spatially, making elaborate use of maps as its special tool. In the study of geography two main branches may be distinguished, physical geography and human (or cultural) geography, originally anthropogeography. The first, based on the physical sciences, studies the world's surface, the distribution, delineation, and nature of its land and water areas. 1 Cultural geographers examine the relationship between geography and culture, studying how features such as religion, language, or ethnicity relate to location. 2  Economic geographers study economic activities and the distribution of resources. 1 Economic geographers study economic activities and the distribution of resources. 2  They may research subjects such as regional employment or the location of industries. 3  Environmental geographers research the impact humans have on the environment and how human activities affect natural processes. What Geographers Do. Geographers work in many different areas, such as environmental management, education, disaster response, city and county planning, community development, and more! Geography is an interdisciplinary field that offers diverse career opportunities. Geography is the science of place and space. Geographers ask where things are located on the surface of the earth, why they are located where they are, how places differ from one another, and how people interact with the environment. Geography is unique in linking the social sciences and natural sciences together.  There are two main branches of geography: human geography and physical geography. Human geography is concerned with the spatial aspects of human existence. Physical geographers study patterns of climates, landforms, vegetation, soils, and water. Geographers use many tools and techniques in their work, and geographic technologies are increasingly important for understanding our complex world. They include Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Remote Sensing, Global Positioning Systems (GPS), and online mapping such as Google Earth. Explore the links below to review sample job titles associated with specific subfields within geography.
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/geographers.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography http://earthonlinemedia.com/ebooks/tpe_3e/essentials/geography%20and%20the%20scientific%20method.html http://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/world/geography-methods-branches.html http://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/geographers.htm http://www.aag.org/cs/jobs_and_careers/what_geographers_do/overview http://www.aag.org/cs/what_geographers_do
geography what research methods do they use