Quantitative revolution

Quantitative Revolution

Definition of Quantitative Revolution:

The application of statistical & mathematical techniques, theorems & proofs in understanding geographical systems is known as the ‘quantitative revolution’ in geography.

Main Concept of Quantitative Revolution:

The Quantitative Revolution occurred during the 1950s & 1960s & marked a rapid change in the method behind geographical research, from regional geography into a spatial science. The main claim for the quantitative revolution is that it led to a shift from a descriptive (ideographic) geography to an empirical law-making (nomothetic) geography. This led to radical change in the methodology & purpose of the geography survey & geographers focus on generalizing, formulation & modeling rather than region interpretation of the earth surface with the help of scientific approaches. This radical change in geography was first seen in the form of a revolution in America.

Objectives of Quantitative Revolution:

      i.         To change the descriptive character of the subject (geo + graphy) and to make it a scientific discipline; 

     ii.         To explain and interpret the spatial patterns of geographical phenomena in a rational, objective and cogent manner; 

   iii.         To use mathematical language instead of the language of literature, like ‘After in the Koppen’s classification of climate which stands for the ‘tropical rainforests’; 

   iv.         To make precise statements (generalizations) about locational order; 

     v.         To test hypotheses and formulate models, theories and laws for estimations and predictions; 

   vi.         To identify the ideal locations for the various economic activities so that the profit may be maximized by the resource users; and 

  vii.         To provide geography a sound philosophical and theoretical base, and to make its methodology objective and scientific. 

In order to achieve these objectives, the preachers of quantitative techniques stressed on field surveys for the collection of data and empirical observations. 

Assumption of Quantitative Revolution:

      i.         Man is a rational (economic) person who always tries to optimize his profits. 

     ii.         Man has infinite knowledge of his space (environment and resources). 

   iii.         They assumed ‘space’ as an isotropic surface. 

   iv.         There is no place for the normative questions (questions about social values) in scientific research and objective interpretation of the geographical reality. 

     v.         They assumed that normative questions, like cultural values, beliefs, attitudes, customs, traditions, likes and dislikes, prejudice, and aesthetic values have no place in geographical research and scientific explanation of geographical patterns.

Approaches of Quantitative Revolution:

The quantitative revolution has led to the identification of two major approaches to the study of geography:

      i.         Spatial Analysis: It refers to the quantitative (mainly statistical) procedures & techniques applied in locational analytic work, although such procedures & techniques are not particular to the philosophy of positivism.

     ii.         Spatial Science: The presentation of human geography as that component of the social sciences which focuses on the role of space as a fundamental variable influencing the organization & operation of society & the behavior of individuals. It was formulated during the quantitative revolution & is usually closely related to the philosophy of positivism.

The following aspects of the conception of ‘space’ under the above two approaches appear to be the central features of geography:

a)     Spatial Interaction: It refers to interdependence between geographic areas. This interdependence is complementary to the society-environment interdependence within a single area &, therefore, it is a major focus of quantitative inquiry.

b)    Spatial Structure: It refers to the resulting arrangements of phenomena on the earth’s surface. It could be defined most sharply by interpreting structure as geometrical, from which it followed that the science of space (geography) finds the logic of space (geometry) a sharp tool. The revival of this classical geometric tradition appeared to be a feature of the quantitative revolution in geography & its reconstitution as spatial science.

Leading Advocates of Quantitative Revolution in Geography:

      i.         Peter Haggett (1933-)

     ii.         Richard John Chorley (1927-2002)

   iii.         William Bunge (1928-)

   iv.         Torsten Hägerstrand (1916-2004)

Merits of Quantitative Revolution:

      i.         The quantitative techniques are firmly based on empirical observations & are readily verifiable.

     ii.         The statistical techniques help in reducing a multitude of observations, data & facts to a manageable number of factors.

   iii.         These techniques help in the estimation, interpolation, simulation of data which are necessary for forecasting.

   iv.         They also help in describing, analyzing & simplifying a geographical system.

     v.         Locational theories of industries, agricultural land use intensity, & stages of development of landforms can be easily understood & predicted with the help of quantitative techniques.

   vi.         These techniques provide framework within which theoretical statements can be formally presented.

  vii.         They also provide linguistic economy as the scientific mathematic language is based on the principles of brevity & clarity.

viii.         The models formulated with the help of quantitative techniques are generally free from biasness & they are of immense use in the building of theories, general & special laws.

   ix.         Quantitative revolution based on positivism distinguishes science from metaphysics & religion & thus provides the subject of geography a sound philosophical, scientific & methodological base.

Demerits of Quantitative Revolution:

      i.         The quantitative revolution was based on the philosophy of positivism which distinguishes science from religion and metaphysics. It followed the methodology of spatial science and thus reduced the subject to space geometry. The man and environment relationship cannot be properly established by the mechanistic models designed with the help of quantitative techniques.

     ii.         The advocates of quantitative revolution pleaded for the language of geometry. Geometry is not an acceptable language to explain the man and environment relationship—the main theme of human geography.

   iii.         The advocates of quantitative techniques in geography focused on ‘locational analysis’. The main weakness of the locational analysis is that it promotes capitalism. In a capitalistic society, there is exploitation of human and environmental resources (land, water, forest and minerals) which makes the rich richer and the poor poorer.

   iv.         With the development of sophisticated machinery and automation, there is less scope of employment. Thus, it leads to unemployment and it is a system of wasteful production. The assumption that man is a ‘rational person’ who always tries to optimize his profit has also been criticized.

     v.         In the real world location decisions are seldom if ever optimal in the sense of maximizing profits or minimizing resources used. In the opinion of Simon, man, in a limited number of alternative, chooses one that is broadly satisfactory rather than optimal. In most of the cases the satisfying model applies and man takes decisions about the utilization of his resources to satisfy his aspirations and desires.

   vi.         The assumption that man has ‘infinite knowledge’ of his space or environment (resources) has also been criticized. The knowledge about a resource changes as the new technology develops. Hence, say that he has a full knowledge about his environment.

  vii.         Models developed with the help of quantitative techniques reduced people (decision-makers, workers) to passive agents. To a large extent such models may be seen as one of determinism.

viii.         Application of quantitative techniques demands not only considerable mathematical power, they also demand reliable data which is rarely available in the developing countries like ours. In fact, the data collected in the developing countries has many pitfalls and shortcomings. The models or theories developed on the basis of unreliable data is bound to give only a distorted and faulty picture of the geographical reality.

   ix.         The overenthusiastic preachers of quantitative techniques have sacrificed many good qualitative statements which were quite useful in the interpretation of regional personalities.

     x.         The estimations and predictions made with the help of sophisticated quantitative techniques proved erroneous many a time and there remains a danger of overgeneralization.

   xi.         The models developed with the help of statistical techniques give more prominence to some features and distort some others.

  xii.         Making reliable models and universal laws in human geography like other social sciences with the help of quantitative techniques is, however, not possible. 

Impact of Quantitative Revolution:

      i.         Rapid Changing in Geographical Research: For the quantitative revolution, rapid change in the method behind geographical research, from regional geography into a spatial science

     ii.         Shift Ideographic to Nomothetic Approach: Quantitative revolution led to a shift from a descriptive (ideographic) geography to an empirical law-making (nomothetic) geography. 

   iii.         Radical Change Method & Purpose of Geography: This led to radical change in the methodology & purpose of the geography survey.

   iv.         Focus on Scientific Approaches: After quantitative revolution, geographers focus on generalizing, formulation & modeling rather than region interpretation of the earth surface with the help of scientific approaches.

     v.         Easily Understood & Predict of Locational Theories: Locational theories of industries, agricultural land use intensity, & stages of development of landforms can be easily understood & predicted with the help of quantitative techniques.

   vi.         Help in Forecasting: These techniques help in the estimation, interpolation, simulation of data which are necessary for forecasting.

  vii.         Help in Geographical System: They also help in describing, analyzing & simplifying a geographical system.

viii.         Theoretical Statement Formally Presented: These techniques provide framework within which theoretical statements can be formally presented.

   ix.         Linguistic Economy as the Scientific Mathematic Language: They also provide linguistic economy as the scientific mathematic language is based on the principles of brevity & clarity.

Conclusion:

No matter how much the quantitative approach is criticized. This approach expanded from America to Europe, Britain & Sweden. In the 1960s, Peter Haggett, Richard John Chorley, William Bunge etc. British geographers quantitative approach moved forward, & they analyzed geographical data with the help of computer analysis & presented formulas or models. Therefore, it can be said that Radicalism approach emerged in geography because quantitative revolution did not discuss the relationship between man & environment.

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