Centennial Honors College
Western Illinois University
Undergraduate Research Day 2012
Poster Presentation
Reasons for Vacating Residence by Region
Arianne J. Williams
Faculty Mentor: Don Johnson
Accounting and Finance
In this project, the student researcher will use statistical analysis to search for trends in
reasons for vacating residences across different regions of the United States. The data
is taken from the American Housing Survey and uses a list of “reasons for moving.” The
data is then broken down into regions: Northeast, South, Midwest, and West. Through
this analysis, the student researcher hopes to gain insight into differences in culture,
housing attitudes, and other trends as they differ across the United States.
The poster will contain the original data, charts showing how the reasons change in
each individual region, and conclusions based on the analysis. There will also be a
section devoted to the statistical analysis, including the method and results (uninterpreted and in their original form).
Finally, the significance of the research can serve as a basis for future studies. Also,
this research is being done at a critical time. With money and jobs scarce, moving while
expensive on one side, remains a harsh necessity for families and individuals that are
forced to move, either due to inability to afford current homes or to search for work. This
research could reveal trends that, in a later study, could be compared to other trends
related to the economy.