Customer Reviews

Geographic Information Systems for the Social Sciences: Investigating Space and Place

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I bought this book several months ago, but only just recently finished reading it. I got it on the recommendation of a colleague who recommended it, and I was not disappointed.
While the book is geared more towards social scientists and graduate students pursuing a career in social scientists, it does an excellent job of showing researchers common fallacies in using GIS for research. The book does not use many case studies, as other books do, which I think is more helpful because it allows the reader to think out how they would like to pursue their own direction in researching a topic, as opposed to a reader thinking, "well now, that doesn't really work for me," and tossing out the advice that comes from examples altogether.
The book is generic enough when talking about GIS systems that you don't get the feeling that you're reading a 200-page advertisement on the glories and wonders of ArcGIS. I also appreciate the layout of each chapter, opening with an outline of topics, an introduction, the main chapter, and then a summary. It gives you several opportunities to check to make sure you understand exactly what the authors are talking about.