转型中的英国历史地理学:专访查尔斯·威瑟斯

查尔斯·威瑟斯(Charles W.J.Withers)是当代英国著名历史地理学家,2018年7月19日借参加第17届国际历史地理学家大会(ICHG)的机会,作者在波兰华沙大学老图书馆对其进行了采访。现经查尔斯·威瑟斯教授书面授权,将中文译稿刊发如下。采访中,笔者就他的研究经历、学术思想发问,有些问题比较尖锐,他均以数十年来的所见、所思坦诚相告。通过这个采访,读者或可一窥英国历史地理学现状及原委。     

Behavioral Geography and the Theoretical/Quantitative Revolution

Beginning with a position statement about the serendipitous nature of the emergence of both normative theory and quantitative methods in Geography, this chapter details the nature of the various contributions to both areas by Behavioral Geographers. Contributions to data collection and both qualitative and quantitative analysis are reviewed for the periods 1960 to the present. Particular emphasis is placed on contributions made by those interested in decision making and choice behavior, particularly in terms of the role of Spatial Cognition (theory and methods) in fostering and extending those dual "revolutions." Other themes emphasize the development of avenues of publication from the "gray literature" of Department Discussion Papers to the emergence of the journal Geographical Analysis and support by geographers for a variety of interdisciplinary journals. A final focus is on the great variety of themes pursued by the Behavioral Geographer of today, and some suggestions are made regarding possible avenues for future research.