Glossary (Version 8.4)

An approach to the study focused on the development of a wide variety of skills such as observing, reading, gathering, organising, preparing, presenting, analysing, interpreting and synthesising geographic information from a variety of sources including spatial technologies and fieldwork. In short, it involves the skills needed to formulate questions and initiate, plan and implement an inquiry relevant to a geographical issue, process or phenomenon.

The combination of physical and human forces that form and transform our world.

The spatial distribution of geographical phenomena throughout the world, for example, megacities, earthquake hazards, deforestation and fashion design.

In its broad sense, the term ‘globalisation’ refers to the diffusion of manufacturing, services, markets, culture, lifestyle, capital, technology and ideas across national boundaries and around the world. It also refers to the integration of these geographically dispersed economic and social activities. The particular character of individual countries, regions and even localities interacts with the larger scale general processes of change to produce quite specific outcomes (P. Dicken - Global Shift, 1992)