RSOC597A: Special Topics in Methods/Statistics

Introduction to Spatial Data Analysis

June 15, 2006

Instructor: Kathy Brasier105B Armsby Bldg.

865-7321

Session Description

This module will introduce basic statistical and methodological concepts associated with spatial data analysis in the social sciences. Specifically, the discussion will revolve around:

  • Why do you need to understand spatial analysis?
  • For what questions are the issues relevant?
  • What can the methods and statistics provide above and beyond current tools?
  • What are the basic statistics and methods of spatial analysis?
  • What are the software options?
  • What are good resources if I want to study this further?

Readings

Required:

Bailey, Trevor C. and Anthony C. Gatrell. 1995. Interactive Spatial Data Analysis. Essex, UK: Longman Group Limited.

Read pp. 3-11, 15-17, 21-40

Stephan, Frederick F. 1934. "Sampling Errors and Interpretations of Social Data Ordered in Time and Space." Journal of the American Statistical Association 29:165-166.

Loftin, Colin and Sally K. Ward. 1983. "A Spatial Autocorrelation Model of the Effects of Population Density on Fertility." American Sociological Review 48:121-128.

Optional, but recommended:

Anselin, Luc and Anil K. Bera. 1998. "Spatial Dependence in Linear Regression Models with an Introduction to Spatial Econometrics." Pp. 237-289 in Handbook of Applied Economic Statistics, edited by A. Ullah and D. E. Giles. New York: Marcel Dekker.

Deane, Glenn, E. M. Beck, and Stewart E. Tolnay. 1998. "Incorporating Space into Social Histories: How Spatial Processes Operate and How We Observe Them." International Review of Social History 43:57-80.

Miron, John. 1984. "Spatial Autocorrelation in Regression Analysis: A Beginner's Guide." Pp. 201-222 in Spatial Statistics and Models, edited by G. L. Gaile and C. J. Willmott. Dordrecht, Holland: D. Reidel Publishing Company.

Take-home Assignment:

The purpose of this assignment is to give you a chance to find an article that fits your interests and think through the spatial data analysis the authors used. I also want you to think about a research question that interests you that might require the use of spatial data analysis.

  1. From the list on pp. 5-6 of this document (or by searching out another article not listed), pick an article that uses spatial data analysis procedures (suggested articles have * in front). In your own words (not the authors’ explanations)….
  2. What is the central research question?
  3. Why do the authors think that spatial data analysis is important to their research question?
  4. What exploratory spatial data analysis methods do they use? What are some of their conclusions based on their findings?
  5. What type of spatial effect are they interested in? Spatial heterogeneity? Spatial dependence? Both?Describe how their choice of models reflects this interest.
  6. What are the authors’ conclusions about the effects of space? Do their conclusions match their theory and data? Do you see any advantages and/or challenges to their approach?
  7. Develop a short (1 paragraph) statement of a research problem that interests you that might require the use of spatial data analysis (it may or may not be something you have or are planning to work on). Then:
  8. Describe the theoretical and statistical reasons why you think geographic location might affect this problem.
  9. Describe the steps you’d go through to assess spatial effects in your research. What diagnostics would you use?
  10. Speculate about the potential causes of the spatial effects in your research, and the model you think might be appropriate to assess these effects.

Due date: Due Monday, June 19th, by 4:30 pm. I prefer you submit the assignment via email, but will also accept paper copies (please give them to me personally or put them in my mailbox in 106 Armsby).

Returning assignments: I will return comments via email by Thursday, June 22nd.

Re-writes: You may re-write your assignment for full credit. The final due date is Monday,June 26that 4:30 pm.

Resources for additional information

Web Sites and Courses

PennState’s Population Research Institute’s Geographic Information Analysis Core: This is the on-campus unit for geographic analysis in the social sciences. They offer research services, database resources, and training.

Center for Spatially Integrated Social Science: Specifically recommend that you explore the software they describe and the discussion lists.

Spatial Analysis Laboratory, Dept. of Agricultural and Consumer Economics, University of Illinois: This is Luc Anselin’s laboratory homepage, where he keeps copies of articles, datasets, lecture notes, and software releases.

The Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) offers courses taught by Anselin on spatial analysis. See the ICPSR web site for more information:

General statistical/methodological resources:

Anselin, Luc. 1988. Spatial Econometrics: Methods and Models. Dordrecht, Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publishers.

Somewhat dated; more recent articles explain tools better. But still the most comprehensive text of concepts and mathematical explanations. New version likely out in next year or so.

Anselin, Luc. 2001. “Spatial effects in econometric practice in environmental and resource economics.” American Journal of Agricultural Economics 83(3):705-710.

Short piece which raises issues specific to this area of study, resulting from the integration of social and biophysical data.

Anselin, Luc and Raymond J.G.M. Florax. 1995. New Directions in Spatial Econometrics. New York: Springer-Verlag.

Edited book containing more detailed articles about specific issues, problems, methods.

Doreian, Patrick. 1980. "Linear Models with Spatially Distributed Data: Spatial Disturbances or Spatial Effects?" Sociological Methods & Research 9:29_60.

Doreian, Patrick. 1981. "Estimating Linear Models with Spatially Distributed Data." Sociological Methodology 12:359_388.

Pair of early articles by a sociologist, identifying problem of and potential solution for spatial autocorrelation.

Duncan, Otis Dudley, Ray P. Cuzzort, and Beverly A. Duncan. 1963. Statistical Geography. New York: Free Press.

Early theoretical work on spatial autocorrelation.

Ord, Keith. 1975. "Estimation Methods for Models of Spatial Interaction." Journal of the American Statistical Association 70:120_126.

Resources related to specific statistics/methods:

Anselin, Luc. 1988. “Model Validation in Spatial Econometrics: A Review and Evaluation of Alternative Approaches.” International Regional Science Review 11(3):279-316.

Anselin, Luc. 1988. “Lagrange multiplier test diagnostics for spatial dependence and spatial heterogeneity.” Geographical Analysis 20(1):1-17.

Anselin, Luc. 1995. "Local Indicators of Spatial Association – LISA." Geographical Analysis 27:93_115.

Anselin, Luc. 1996. "The Moran Scatterplot as an ESDA Tool to Assess Local Instability in Spatial Association." Pp. 111_125 in Spatial Analytical Perspectives on GIS, edited by M. Fischer, H. J. Scholten, and D. Unwin. London: Taylor & Francis.

Anselin, Luc, Anil K. Bera, Raymond J.G.M. Florax, and Mann J. Yoon. 1996. "Simple Diagnostic Tests for Spatial Dependence." Regional Science and Urban Economics 26:77_104.

Anselin, Luc and Sergio J. Rey. 1991. "Properties of Tests for Spatial Dependence in Linear Regression Models." Geographical Analysis 23:112_131.

Kelejian, Harry H., and Ingmar R. Prucha. 1998. “A Generalized Spatial Two-stage Least Squares Procedure for Estimating a Spatial Autoregressive Model with Autoregressive Disturbances.” Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics 17(1):99-121.

Land, Kenneth C. and Glenn Deane. 1992. "On the Large-Sample Estimation of Regression Models with Spatial- or Network-Effects Terms: A Two-Stage Least Squares Approach." Sociological Methodology 22:221_248.

Examples of spatial data analysis:

*Anselin, Luc, Attila Varga, and Zoltan Acs. 2000. “Geographical Spillovers and University Research: A Spatial Econometric Perspective.” Growth and Change 31:501-515.

*Ault, Brian and William Brustein. 1998. "Joining the Nazi Party: Explaining the Political Geography of NSDAP Membership, 1925_1933." American Behavioral Scientist 41:1304_1323.

*Blau, Judith R., Kenneth C. Land, and Kent Redding. 1992. "The Expansion of Religious Affiliation: An Explanation of the Growth of Church Participation in the United States." Social Science Research 21:329_352.

Entwisle, Barbara, Ronald R. Rindfuss, Stephen J. Walsh, Tom P. Evans, and Sara R. Curran. 1997. "Geographic Information Systems, Spatial Network Analysis, and Contraceptive Choice." Demography 34:171_187.

Faust, Katherine, Barbara Entwisle, Ronald R. Rindfuss, Stephen J. Walsh, and Yothin Sawangdee. 2000. "Spatial Arrangement of Social and Economic Networks among Villages in Nang Rong District, Thailand." Social Networks 21:311_337.

Goldsmith, Victor, Philip G. McGuire, John H. Mollenkopf, and Timothy A. Ross. 2000. Analyzing Crime Patterns: Frontiers of Practice. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.

Hedstrom, Peter. 1994. "Contagious Collectivities: On the Spatial Diffusion of Swedish Trade Unions, 1890_1940." American Journal of Sociology 99:1157_1179.

*Hooks, Gregory. 1994. "Regional Processes in the Hegemonic Nation: Political, Economic, and Military Influences on the Use of Geographic Space." American Sociological Review 59:746_772.

*Land, Kenneth C., Glenn Deane, and Judith R. Blau. 1991. "Religious Pluralism and Church Membership: A Spatial Diffusion Model." American Sociological Review 56:237_249.

*Messner, Steven F., Luc Anselin, Robert D. Baller, Darnell F. Hawkins, Glenn Deane, and Stewart E. Tolnay. 1999. "The Spatial Patterning of County Homicide Rates: An Application of Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis." Journal of Quantitative Criminology 15:423-450.

Reardon, Sean F., and David O’Sullivan. 2004. “Measures of Spatial Segregation.” Sociological Methodology 34:121-162.

Rey, Sergio J., and Brett D. Montouri. “US Regional Income Convergence: A Spatial Econometric Perspective.” Regional Studies 33(2):143-156.

Sampson, Robert J., Jeffrey Morenoff, and Felton Earls. 1999. "Beyond Social Capital: Spatial Dynamics of Collective Efficacy for Children." American Sociological Review 64:633_660.

Strang, David and Nancy Brandon Tuma. 1993. "Spatial and Temporal Heterogeneity in Diffusion." American Journal of Sociology 99:614_639.

*Tolnay, Stewart E., Glenn Deane, and E. M. Beck. 1996. "Vicarious Violence: Spatial Effects on Southern Lynchings, 1890-1919." American Journal of Sociology 102:788-815.

*Tolnay, Stewart E. 1995. "The Spatial Diffusion of Fertility: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Counties in the American South, 1940." American Sociological Review 60:299-308.

Wong, David W. S. 1999. "Geostatistics as Measures of Spatial Segregation." Urban Geography 20:635_647.

Zhao, Dingxin. 1998. "Ecologies of Social Movements: Student Mobilization During the 1989 Prodemocracy Movement in Beijing." American Journal of Sociology 103:1493_1529.

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