Methodology of Social Geography

Abstract

1. Social geography is a branch of human geography, which should clarify the character of a region from view-point of its social struture.2. The social structure is the most effective indicator which might manifest the regionality as a terrestrial whole, because it must be formed in the condition of equilibrium between nutual actions or reactions of cultural and natural phenomena, and thus, it is considered to be the most synthetic indicator.3. Especially, in the region where a rural community still remains, its social structure is destined to have been largely determined by natural environment. We can understand the close relation to natural enviroment more synthetically and more clearly in the social structure than in any other cultural event.4. The study of social geography finds its significance in investigating the environmental factors which make the basis of social structure, by analyzing the processes of production in detail, and further in catching the real aspects of social structure within the evident forms of settlement, the visible forms of land possession et cetera.5. Social geography includes three branches, that is, state social geography, urban social geography and rural social geography. The materials of regional planning should be obtained from the study of structural character of the states, cities, towns and villages.