Socio-Hydrology with Hydrosocial Theory: Two Sides of the Same Coin?

Published In

Hydrological Sciences Journal

Document Type

Citation

Publication Date

5-2020

Abstract

This paper reviews socio-hydrology and hydrosocial research, finding a sophisticated relationship with emergent syntheses. We examined 419 papers by topic, region of study, theories implemented, journal, and year published to ascertain trends in both subfields. We found important overlap and considerable difference between subfields. Whereas hydrosocial research took years to develop, socio-hydrology commenced with an inaugural paper in 2012. While the former focuses on power and scale in studying water demand, the latter concentrates on practical responses to climate extremes. Hydrosocial research usually relies on qualitative methods, and socio-hydrology research the quantitative. In the geographic regions where the former does not focus, the latter does. The former often relies on post-structuralist theory, whereas the latter uses positivist approaches. Our review concludes that socio-hydrology and hydrosocial research exist in a complex epistemological relationship, offering fertile grounds for lively discussions from which both will continue to benefit.

Description

Copyright © 2020 Informa UK Limited

DOI

10.1080/02626667.2020.1761023

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/33227

Share

COinS