ABSTRACT
DATA, IN VARIOUS FORMS, are the raw material with which geographers pursue much of their research. Yet collection, acquisition and, even, availability of data can pose problems in themselves. This chapter explores some key issues, and some solutions, associated with data sources. As we shall see, the quality and, in some circumstances, the quantity of our data determines which statistical methods should be used, and it is important that we understand the strengths and weaknesses of our data before we embark on any statistical analysis. This chapter is not, however, intended to be a comprehensive review of sources, but rather an introduction to the main types of data available and the means of collecting them.
