Question

What techniques do geographers use when following a Post-Structuralist methodology? Provide some examples to help further your discussion.

Answer 1

Post-Structuralist approach deals with study of space and place. It act as a guide for students. It guides them towards a theoretical literature. It also helps in comprehensive understanding of subject. It is a concept which mainly puts emphasis on plurality of meanings.

It also puts main force on language and literature. It says that if we want to understand a topic or a subject then we must study that subject/topic along with the systems of knowledge that have produced that subject. It helps in deeper understanding of subjects.

Geographers use historical concepts of an event in order to provide detailed description of a subject. They also consider the role of cultural aspects which have developed influence on certain historical and present aspects. Suppose a scientist want to study the formation of Himalayan range of mountains. He will start from the study of its soil and formative matter.

He will take references from various texts which provide historical background of research on that subject. After the study of historical background, he will apply knowledge of present techniques such as carbon dating to match the validity of historical data.

He may improvise the existing techniques through the application of certain knowledge. If data becomes matched then validity and factual information are considered true. Now, a new form of knowledge may be developed through the application of modern techniques and cultural data. This new knowledge can be amplified to further testings in order to develope a new hypothesis.