Social mapping as a method of analysis of social territorial space

Abstract

The technology of social mapping has become far more in demand in recent years, indeed its presence has expanded to virtually every field of research. In this sociology is no different, as it potential to assist social researchers has become more and more apparent. The requirements for more advanced and accurate instruments to provide social mapping are rising for those engaged in planning social policy. The key issue is that social mapping suffers from a tremendous amount of diversity in methodology and lacks a clear standardisation of methods that is present in other mapping techniques. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of what social mapping is in its essence, characterising the main possible roads of development for the use of social mapping in new research. Firstly, the author provides a definition of mapping and a typology of the main forms currently in use. Attention is given to the methods used to find the necessary effective mechanisms for the analysis of social spaces and relations. This includes the visualisation of spatial data, which is essential for the encouragement of social participation in social-territorial contexts and in the development of new social policy. The article includes a typology of mapping and a review of its origins, to help provide an understanding of the specifics of social mapping through the socio-economic, socio-anthropological, social-internet and social project approaches used in the building of social maps. The conclusion is found to be that modern methods of social mapping may be used not only for the analysis of social processes in the spatial and information contexts but also to reveal interactions between them. What is needed for all types of mapping that are used is training to improve skills in graphic work, so that images produced facilitate understanding rather than require extra intellectual effort to digest.