‘What is geography?’ an analysis of definitions provided by prospective teachers of the subject

105 postgraduate students with Honours degrees in geography who joined the specialist geography teacher‐training group at the University of Cambridge, England, in the period 1990–1994 were asked to provide a short definition of ‘geography’ at the start of their course. The definitions were analysed and considered in the light of possible ways in which they might be categorised, and in relation to previous classifications of geography which have been suggested by scholars. A new classification was developed. The largest proportion of students are identified as ‘Interactionists’, stressing the linkage of physical and human environmental study in their definitions. Smaller proportions of students are identified as ‘Synthesisers’, ‘Spatialists’ and ‘Placeists’. It is suggested that further research on the way in which teachers’ view of geography influence their own pedagogy and curriculum planning would be fruitful.