Development geography.

Development geography is the study of human quality of life and standard of living from a spatial perspective. This interdisciplinary academic field, a subset of human geography, aims to study the patterns of change within human communities. It can take the form of quantitative evaluations that use development indictors, such as gross national product (GNP) and employment rates, to classify populations into high-, medium-, and low-development categories. Studies can also use qualitative research methods, such as interviewing community members with the aim of understanding how they experience and adapt to socioeconomic changes. The work of development geographers is used by academics, development agencies, and governments to develop plans intended to assist disadvantaged communities.