Uncertainty and its significance in geographical education: a comprehensive analysis

Abstract

Uncertainty is a phrase that is used in geography education, however its meaning and conceptualization differ. The word "uncertainty" is employed in several settings within the field of geography education, and this article provides an overview of those definitions and ideas. Because of the close relationship between their knowledge and their work in the classroom and in the lab, scientists and geography educators will find this review particularly useful. To achieve this goal, a comprehensive literature study was carried out. A total of sixty-three articles were chosen for this qualitative content analysis, and they were all published in English. It was clear from reading most of the articles that the word "uncertainty" does not have a single, definitive meaning; rather, the phrase is defined and specified implicitly and in relation to other authors' work (e.g. scientific uncertainty). A variety of methods, including those focused on science, knowledge, action, and decision-making, as well as other categories like actor groups and the temporal dimension, allow for many conceptualizations and definitions of the word uncertainty. This review of the literature covers all of these areas.