6.6 Research project

• Aardrijkskunde
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 3

6.6 Research project

After studying this section, you will be able to:

• Outline some differences and similarities between the countries of Latin America
  ;
• Complete a small-scale comparative research project by using different sorts of geographical sources.

Learning objectives

After studying this section, you will be able to:

• Outline some differences and similarities between the countries of Latin America;
• Complete a small-scale comparative research project by using different sorts of geographical sources.

Essence

A vast cultural region like Latin America obviously shows lots of differences when you zoom in on the individual countries that together make up the region. However, the fact that these countries are classified as belonging to the same region also means that they have enough in common to be distinguished from other cultural regions in the world.

Different kinds of research

Steps in the process of doing research

Which phenomena/topics could possibly be useful for your study to compare the different countries of Latin America with each other?

Research questions 3HT

Choose from one of the two main research questions given below:

• Main research question 1: To what extent do Brazil, Argentina, Peru and Ecuador relate to each other when it comes to their physical geography?
  

• Main research question 2: To what extent do Brazil, Argentina, Peru and Ecuador relate to each other when it comes to their human geography?

Research questions 3VT

You can choose from one of the two main research questions given below or formulate your own main research question:

• Main research question 1: To what extent do Brazil, Argentina, Peru and Ecuador relate to each other when it comes to their physical geography?

• Main research question 2: To what extent do Brazil, Argentina, Peru and Ecuador relate to each other when it comes to their human geography?

Subquestions (examples)

1. To what extent do the four countries differ or resemble each other, in terms of their ethnic composition?
2. To what extent do the four countries differ or resemble each other, when it comes to equal habitation of the country?
3. To what extent do the four countries differ or resemble each other, when it comes to domestic income inequality?

Comparing geographical situations

Horizontally

Comparing two or more different areas on the same aspect. 

For example: How is air pollution in Amsterdam compared to that in Rotterdam and Utrecht? 

Vertically

Comparing different subjects within one area. 

For example: What is the relationship between high wages in the Chinese cities and the fast pace of urbanisation in China?

What kind of comparison does the map show?

1. Horizontally
2. Vertically

1. Horizontally
2. Vertically

Your research?

• Answering your sub-questions will be a horizontal comparison, since you will compare one aspect of four different countries.

• In answering the main question you will use a vertical comparison since you compare different aspects within one area (Latin America).

Pair up!

• Formulate your main question
• Formulate subquestions
• Do 6.6, ex. 5 together
• Start researching!

Date to hand-in your research report:

Friday 3 July (23:59)

(presentations 10 July)

Final product: research report

Presentation

Friday 10 July

(not for a mark)