APPROACHES TO STUDY OF
RURAL GEOGRAPGY
BY
Dr. Mumtaj Ahmad
APPROACHES TO STUDY OF RURAL GEOGRAPHY
There are the following approaches to the study of rural geography
as under.
1. Deterministic Approach
2. Possibilistic Approach
3. Systematic Approach
4. Regional Approach
5. Deductive Approach
6. Inductive Approach
7. Quantitative Approach
8. Welfare Approach
9. System Approach
10. Ecological Approach
11. Humanistic approach
12. Historical Approach
1. Deterministic Approach
The environment controls the course of human action. In other
words, the belief that variation in human behavior around the
world
can
be
explained
by
differences
in
the
natural
environment.
The philosophies, approaches and practices which inform and
flow from a concern with the environment are known as
environmental determinism.
The essence of deterministic approach is that the history, culture,
lifestyle, and stage of development of a group, society or nation
are largely governed by the physical factors (terrain, climate,
drainage, fauna and flora) of environment.
The determinists generally consider man as a passive agent on
which the environmental factors are acting and determining his
1. Possibilistic Approach
French Scholar Lucian Febvre, first used the term possibilism in
his book entitled “Geographical introduction to History”. He
wrote “The true and only geographical problem is that of
Utilization
of
possibilities.
There
are
no
necessities,
but
everywhere possibilities; and the man as master of these
possibilities is the judge of their use.”
Although the concept of possibilism became very popular after
the World War I (1914-18) it was Vidal De la Blache who
advocates the philosophy of possibilism and published a book
entitled “Principle de Geographic Humaine” in 1923 after his
death.
In his studies, he minimized the influence on activities of man on
environment. In his opinion life styles are the product and
He tried to explain differences between groups in the same or
similar environment, and pointed out that these differences are
not due to the dictates of physical environment but are the
outcome of variations in attitudes, values, and habits. Variations
in attitudes and habits create various possibilities for human
communities.
3. Systematic Approach
This
approach
provides
a
systematic
description
and
interpretation of the world distribution pattern of a commodity
(wheat) or an industry (cotton textile industry) or a human
occupation (fishing). It analyses the whole sequence of their
development, and catches them on their march to progression or
retrogression.
4. Regional Approach
The term region is very popular in geographical literature and
refers to a suitable areal unit e.g. a climatic region, a natural
region,
an
industrial
region,
an
agricultural
region
an
administrative region and so on.
A region is having common geo-economic characteristics, a
resource base, economic development and to some extent
similarities in culture and demographic structure.
Therefore, several geographers have chosen this approach in
rural geography. It gives a better knowledge of different parts of
a unit and their relationship to each other.
5. Deductive Approach
A deductive approach is concerned with developing hypothesis
based on existing theory, and then designing a research strategy
to test the hypothesis.
Deductive approach offers the following advantages
(i) Possibility to explain casual relationships between concepts
and variables.
(ii) Possibility to measure concepts quantitatively.
(iii) Possibility to generalize research findings to a certain extent.
In studies with deductive approach, the researcher formulates
a set of hypotheses at the start of the research. Then, relevant
research methods are chosen and applied to test the hypotheses
to prove them right or wrong.
Deductive approach are more commonly associated with
6. Inductive Approach
Inductive approach, also known as inductive reasoning, starts with
the observations and theories are proposed towards the end of
research process as a result of observation. Bottom to Up direction
(i) Inductive research involve the search for pattern from
observation and the development of explanation-theories-for
those patterns through series of hypotheses.
(ii) No theories or hypotheses would apply in inductive studies at
the beginning of the research and the researcher is free in
terms of altering the direction for the study after the research
process started.
(iii) Inductive approach is based on learning from experience.
Patterns, resemblances and regularities in experience are
observed in order to reach conclusion or generate theory. It is
7. Quantitative Approach
It employ the scientific method to interpret and understand issues
in rural
geography. The quantitative approach is based on
empirically verifiable and commonly agreed upon evidence
through replication of analytical results. It involves informed
hypothesis testing leading to empirical generalization and law like
statement e.g. GIS and Statistical tools and technique.
8. Welfare Approach
This approach emerged as a result of growing inequalities
among different regions of the world and within countries along
with group different social groups, especially under the impact
of capitalism. Issues like poverty, regional inequalities, urban
slums and deprivation are the main theme of this approach.
D.M. Smith and David Harvey are the main supporter of this
approach.
The focus of the welfare approach is on “who gets what, where
and how"?. The who refers to the area under review, what
refers to the various goods (and bads) enjoyed or endured by the
population in the form of commodity, services, environmental
quality and so on. The where reflects the fact that living
standard differ according to area of residence. The how refers to
9. System Approach
A system is a set of identified elements so related that together
they form a complex whole. System analysis is an approach or
methodology rather than philosophy or scientific paradigm.
Rural geographer utilize the system concept in order to better
understand the important elements of some part of reality, and
relation between them. The use of such a conception stresses the
study of the whole as well as of the parts.
10. Ecological Approach
The ecosystem concept, with an emphasis on structure, networks
of interaction, and function, is quite useful conducting such
geographical investigations.
methodological
approach
geographic research.
Ecology is thus viewed as a
with significant applications
for
The Scientific approach to natural resource dynamics involves
the characterization of how the environment influences the
abundance and availability of given resource.
From the ecological point of view, the environment is a collection
of natural factors (physical, chemical and biological) capable of
affecting living organisms. Therefore, any factor that can be
consumed or used by an organism is defined as a natural
resource.
The “individual-environment-population” which is at the heart
of ecological thought, presents a multitude of intertwined
interactions that can be grouped in to one of two categories:
interactions
between
organisms
and
organisms and their physical environment.
interaction
between
11. Humanistic Approach
This approach emphasis on the central and active role of humans in
terms of human awareness, human agency, human conscious-ness
and human creativity. On other words, this approach is on the self
of an human being.
12. Historical Approach
Historical approach involves in the studying, understanding, and
interpreting past events. The purpose of historical approach in
research is to reach insight or conclusions about past person or
occurrence. Typically, histories focuses on particular individuals,
social issues, and links between the old and the new.