Understanding Spatial Analysis Through Content Analysis Data: Patterns and Measurements
This text explores spatial analysis as a social dimension, investigating where events occur, their spatial distribution, and the meanings associated with various spaces. It examines stability in spatial patterns, movements depicted in the data, and different types of spatial patterns such as diffusion and spillover effects. Readers will learn about fundamental spatial measures, methods for analyzing spatial data, and useful mapping techniques, including GIS and Excel mapping. This comprehensive overview empowers analysts to effectively interpret spatial data for insightful conclusions.
Understanding Spatial Analysis Through Content Analysis Data: Patterns and Measurements
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Presentation Transcript
Space as a Social Dimension • Where do things happen? • What is the spatial distribution of the data? • What is associated with this pattern? • Is the spatial pattern stable or changing? • What meanings do spaces and places have? • Are there patterns of movement in the data?
Basic Kinds of Spatial Patterns • Spatial effect=spatial clustering that is NOT due to some other variables • Diffusion or contagion=spatial pattern that expands over time • Spillover effect=spatial pattern that affects neighbors, but is stable over time
Diffusion Pattern http://www.atosorigin.com/NR/rdonlyres/773BC9B7-FF16-42DA-80BC-F3A03F037254/0/info_diffusion_diagram.gif
Basic Spatial Measures in Data • Names of places in the data • Places where events occurred • Names of TYPES of places in the data • Descriptions of places with meanings • Reports of spatial moves in the data
What to Do with Spatial Data • Look for simple frequencies of occurrence • Scale up or down to see patterns • Look for patterns of relation to places • Plot or graph the data over time • time variable • space or location variable • Regressions using a spatial variable • Many methods used in other disciplines
Maps and Mapping • Simple mapping onto a graphic of a map • Excell mapping—now uses XML maps • SPSS Maps is a separate module ($$$) • The Queen of spatial analysis is GIS • ArcSoft software available at UH • Requires standard map coordinates • Old method—use an Army map that has them • Now can get them from Google Earth!
