This book, first published in 1985, explores the connections in academic research between theoretical positions, political perspectives and policy prescriptions. Five different groups of authors, who have written broadly in the fields of industrial and social geography, discuss this relationship and illustrate it with recent work. Around their contributions, the editors have constructed a book that is both a guide to the research debate for students at all levels and a handbook, with notes and questions, for those about to undertake their own research projects.

Though designed primarily for use on undergraduate geography, urban studies and applied economics courses, its broad debate on research method is important for all professional and postgraduate researchers in the social sciences.

Contents

1. Introduction: The debate Doreen Massey and Richard Meegan 2. Recession and restructuring in the North-West region, 1974-82: the implications of recent events Peter Lloyd and John Shutt 3.An approach to the analysis of redundancies in the UK (post- 1976): some methodological problems and policy implications Alan Townsend and Francis Peck 4.Ideology and methods in industrial location research Stephen Fothergill and Graham Gudgin 5.Profits and job loss Doreen Massey and Richard Meegan 6. A modern industry in a declining region: Links between method, theory and policy Andrew Sayer and Kevin Morgan 7. Doing research Doreen Massey and Richard Meegan