RSOC597A: Special Topics in Methods/Statistics
Introduction to Spatial Data Analysis
June 15, 2006
Instructor:
Kathy Brasier
kbrasier@psu.edu
105B 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.
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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.
2.
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)….
a. What is the central research question?
b. Why do the authors think that spatial data analysis is important to their
research question?
c. What exploratory spatial data analysis methods do they use? What are
some of their conclusions based on their findings?
d. What type of spatial effect are they interested in? Spatial heterogeneity?
Spatial dependence? Both? Describe how their choice of models reflects
this interest.
e. 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?
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:
a. Describe the theoretical and statistical reasons why you think geographic
location might affect this problem.
b. Describe the steps you’d go through to assess spatial effects in your
research. What diagnostics would you use?
c. 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 26th at 4:30 pm.
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Resources for additional information
Web Sites and Courses
Penn State’s Population Research Institute’s Geographic Information Analysis Core:
http://www.pop.psu.edu/gia-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: http://csiss.org/. 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: http://sal.agecon.uiuc.edu/default.php. 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: http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/.
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):705710.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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 60:299308.
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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