USING EXPLORATORY SPATIAL DATA ANALYSIS TO LEVERAGE SOCIAL INDICATOR DATABASES: THE DISCOVERY OF INTERESTING PATTERNS

With the proliferation of social indicator databases, the need for powerful techniques to study patterns of change has grown. In this paper, the utility of spatial data analytical methods such as exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA) is suggested as a means to leverage the information contained i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Social indicators research 2007-06, Vol.82 (2), p.287-309
Main Authors: ANSELIN, LUC, SRIDHARAN, SANJEEV, GHOLSTON, SUSAN
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Associations
Autocorrelation
Block Grants
Children
Children & youth
Cluster analysis
Communities
Community Relations
Data Analysis
Data Banks
Dependents
Families & family life
Government Agencies
Health risk assessment
History, theory and methodology
Individual Characteristics
Juvenile justice
Leverage
Locality
Methodology
Outliers
Planning
Predisposing factors
Principal components analysis
Program Development
Progress Monitoring
Public health
Regional planning
Research methodology
Research methods
Social conditions & trends
Social Indicators
Social networks
Social Problems
Social research
Sociology
Spatial Ability
Spatial Analysis
Spatial data
State Agencies
States
Statistical Data
Strategic planning
Studies
Virginia
Welfare economics
Welfare reform
Welfare Services
Well Being
Wellbeing
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Description
Summary:With the proliferation of social indicator databases, the need for powerful techniques to study patterns of change has grown. In this paper, the utility of spatial data analytical methods such as exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA) is suggested as a means to leverage the information contained in social indicator databases. The principles underlying ESDA are illustrated using a study of clusters and outliers based on data for a child risk scale computed for countries in the state of Virginia. Evidence of spatial clusters of high child risks is obtained along the Southern region of Virginia. The utility of spatial methods for state agencies in monitoring social indicators at various localities is discussed. A six-step framework that integrates spatial analysis of key indicators within a monitoring framework is presented; we argue that such a framework could be useful in enhancing communication between State and local planners.
ISSN:0303-8300
1573-0921
DOI:10.1007/s11205-006-9034-x