Framing the Importance of Data Management for Cultural Geographers: Strategies, Challenges, and Resources

Keywords: data management, cultural geography research, qualitative research
Session Type: Virtual Paper Abstract
Day: Saturday
Session Start / End Time: 2/26/2022 11:20 AM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 2/26/2022 12:40 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 68

Abstract

Cultural geographers often work with a wide array of data throughout the course of their research, including images, audio, text, film, and archival materials. Despite this rich engagement with data, it is common for cultural geographers to receive less training around data management methods throughout the course of their education, especially when compared to their counterparts in physical geography and GIS. Data management refers to a set of theories and practices that support organized, accessible, and well-described data, and is crucial in maximizing the impact and value of the data that cultural geographers collect and encounter throughout their research endeavors. This presentation has three main components: first, it will highlight examples of unique data sources used in cultural geography research. Second, it will describe the importance of applying data management techniques to these data sources to support research aims and goals. Finally, this presentation will highlight several practical resources and recommendations for data management strategies that are especially suited towards the research by cultural geographers, and open a call for developing a community of practice around supporting data management challenges and opportunities among the cultural geography community.