2026 SoSci VOCAB

Social Science Vocab (term - def)

Human Geography

The study of how human activities vary across different locations

Spatial Perspective

The reasons why particular phenomena occur in particular places, the “why of where”

Maps

Two-dimensional (typically) portrayals of three-dimensional realities which visually display spatial information

Cartography

The discipline and methodology of creating visual representations of the Earth’s surface through maps

Absolute Location

The area indicated by the pointer on the map, denoting the precise position of an object or place

Latitude Lines

Parallel lines that demonstrate relative distance north and south of the equator (horizontal)

Longitude Lines (Meridians)

Measure relative distance east and west of the prime meridian (vertical)

Prime Meridian

An imaginary line that runs through the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England (0 degrees longitude)

Reference Maps

Maps which provide details about a location that help users identify landmarks and navigate effectively

Political Maps

Maps which help people navigate by showing boundaries, capital cities, and important urban areas

Physical Maps

Maps which facilitate navigation by clearly depicting landforms such as mountains, rivers, and deserts

Road Maps

Maps which, as their name suggests, depict land transportation routes, including streets and highways

Topographic Maps

Maps that use isolines to assist navigation

Isolines

Lines on topographic maps which connect areas of the same elevation

Thematic Maps

Maps which illustrate variables, like population size or income, across a defined region; they focus on datasets that reveal patterns, trends, and conditions.

Choropleth Maps

Maps which display how data varies across locations by using different shades or colors to represent density and/or intensity

Dot Distribution / Dot Density Maps

Maps which demonstrate data frequency through dot density and locations

Isoline Maps

Maps which connect points of equal value to show relationships and characteristics across locations

Graduated Symbol Maps

Maps which compare data quantity across an area by contrasting symbols of varied sizes

Flowline Maps

Maps which use arrows of different sizes to show movement, direction, and intensity of data across space

Cartogram Maps

Maps which use visual distortions imposed on the landscape to demonstrate relative variables.

Area cartograms

Cartograms which impose distortions over an entire area to show variables across space

Distance Cartograms

Cartograms which communicate travel length, distance, and time of travel

Mental Map

An individual’s internal, subjective perception of their surroundings that they use to navigate environments without the need for a physical reference

Absolute Distance

A measurable span using standardized units of length

Accessibility

How easily one location can be reached from and/or influenced by another

Distance Decay Effect

The reduction in interaction between locations as spatial separation grows

Time Space Compression

The phenomena by which advances in technology have diminished disparities in relationship intensity across geographic regions of different distances

Globalization

The increasing connections among individuals, ideas, and economies around the world

Relative Location

The description of where a place is based on what is nearby

Clustering

The close grouping of factors within a location

Dispersal

The even or random distribution of data across a location

Elevation

How high areas are above sea level

(Map) Scale

The level of detail a map displays which determines the relationship between distances in it’s representation and distances in reality

Ratio Scales

The relationship between distances on a map and actual ground distance in terms of a ratio

Written Scales

The difference between real and portrayed distance units is written out: “one centimeter equals one kilometer”

Graphic Scales

Scales which are usually drawn as a bar divided into segments, with each segment corresponding to a specific distance

Projection

The process of transferring geographical locations onto a flat map

Shape

The actual boundaries and form of a location

Size

The actual area of locations

Distance

The physical separation between two locations

Direction

The orientation between two locations

Mercator Projection

Preserves shape and direction, making it ideal for navigation, but distorts size near the poles

The Peters Projection

Shows relative sizes correctly but alters the shape of landmasses

Equal-Area Projection

Keeps size accurate while sacrificing shape

The Robinson Projection

Aims for a balanced compromise among various distortions, offering visually appealing world maps

Geographic Data

Data which provides information about locations that allows geographers to identify patterns and study human-environment interactions

Spatial Data

Physical information about a location attained from references, including maps, satellite images, and GPS coordinates

Non-Spatial Data

describes characteristics of a location such as population, income, or land use

Field Data

Geographic information collected by experts onsite

Geographic Information System (GIS)

Technological tool which superimposes layers of data onto a location to reveal connections and patterns

Geographic Positioning System (GPS)

Technological tool which relies on location data to pinpoint an object’s precise position

Remote sensing

Technological tool which utilizes satellites and aircraft to gather spatial information

Quantitative Data

Data where geographers use mathematical and statistical models to represent and analyze locations

Qualitative Data

Data linked to human-centered perspective in geography and is typically gathered by interviewing people, making firsthand observations, or analyzing texts