Networks,context, and the use of spatially weighted survey metrics |
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Institution: | 1. Susquehanna University, United States;2. Barnard College, United States;3. The University of Colorado at Boulder, United States;1. Department of Sociology, University of Malta, Malta;2. University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PEI, Canada;3. Graduate Institute of Environmental Education, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan;1. University of Washington, USA;2. Dartmouth College, USA |
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Abstract: | Social context is a vitally important concept to political geographers, but one that suffers from measurement problems and ambiguities of definition, particularly at the most localized levels of measurement. In this paper, we argue that unique insights about context can be gained by combining the tools of survey research with the geographic tools of spatial analysis. By spatially interpolating indicators of neighborhood-level political discussion from egocentric network batteries, we capture meaningful variation in micro-level political environments. Focusing on three activist-driven measures of the political environment, we demonstrate that these measures pass key validity tests and improve model fit compared to unit-invariant measures of social context. We conclude by discussing the practical considerations and challenges associated with this measurement strategy and discuss other, more general dimensions of social context that might be captured utilizing this methodology. |
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Keywords: | Context Networks Neighborhoods Spatial analysis Discussion |
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