Final answer:
Geddes' 'first kind' of selection bias refers to the geographical research bias where importance is given to the location as a causal factor, which might overshadow other perspectives. This can lead to skewed interpretations and affects areas such as healthcare and educational approaches in regional geography.
Step-by-step explanation:
Geddes' 'first kind' of selection bias is typically associated with the issue of privileging matters of place and space in geographical research.
This type of bias can lead to conclusions that overemphasize the importance of location, space, or place as causal variables in various phenomena.
It highlights the inherent challenge in academic disciplines, including geography, where adopting a specific epistemological perspective can unintentionally influence outcomes and interpretations of data. Geographical bias may also extend into important societal issues such as healthcare.
For instance, geographers might investigate whether the spatial patterns of treatment for a disease are consistent with the actual spread of the disease, which could uncover significant healthcare disparities.
Another context where geographical selection bias becomes evident is in regional geography, a dominant form of geography taught in K-12 and some introductory college courses.
Unfortunately, if not taught effectively, this approach can devolve into memorization rather than a deep understanding of the processes that give places their unique characteristics. Furthermore, researchers in fields such as invasion ecology may encounter selection biases in their data sets due to uneven geographic coverage of studies across continents.