SPATIAL ANALYSIS AND THE INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF GEOGRAPHY AS A SOCIAL SCIENCE

In the 1960s geography in the United States witnessed some dramatic changes that have been referred to as the “quantitative revolution” and the “spatial analysis” movement. These changes are interpreted here as the main part of an effort to establish geography's membership in the social sciences academy. The roles of certain key individuals in directing this effort are highlighted and some contrasts are drawn between these developments in the United States and the situation in other parts of the English-speaking world, especially Australia and New Zealand.