New Methods for Measuring and Analyzing Segregation

This book is open access under a CC BY-NC 2.5 license.

This book introduces new methods for measuring and analyzing residential segregation. It begins by placing all popular segregation indices in the difference of group means framework wherein index scores can be obtained as simple differences of group means on individual-level residential attainments scored from area racial composition. Drawing on the insight that in this framework index scores are additively determined by individual residential attainments, the book shows that the level of segregation in a given city can be equated to the effect of group membership (e.g., race) on individual residential attainments. This unifies separate research traditions in the field by joining the analysis of segregation at the aggregate level with the analysis of residential attainments for individuals. Next it shows how segregation analysis can be extended by using multivariate attainment models to assess the impact of group membership (i.e., the level of segregation for a city) while including controls for other relevant individual characteristics (e.g., income, education, language, nativity, etc.). It then illustrates how one can use these models to quantitatively assess the extent to which segregation traces to impacts of group membership on residential attainments versus other factors such as group differences in income. The book then shows how micro-level attainment models can be used to study macro-level variation in segregation; specifically, by estimating multi-level models of individual residential attainments to assess how the effect of group membership (i.e., segregation index scores) vary with city characteristics. Finally, the book introduces refined versions of popular indices that are free of the vexing problem of upward bias. This improves the quality of segregation measurement directly at the level of individual cases and expanding the number of cases that can be safely included in empirical studies.

This open access book introduces new perspectives for interpreting and evaluating segregation indices Clarifies the connections between segregation and group differences in residential outcomes Gives researchers the new option of estimating segregation index scores using models of individual residential attainments

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This book is open access under a CC BY-NC 2.5 license.

This book introduces new methods for measuring and analyzing residential segregation. It begins by placing all popular segregation indices in the difference of group means framework wherein index scores can be obtained as simple differences of group means on individual-level residential attainments scored from area racial composition. Drawing on the insight that in this framework index scores are additively determined by individual residential attainments, the book shows that the level of segregation in a given city can be equated to the effect of group membership (e.g., race) on individual residential attainments. This unifies separate research traditions in the field by joining the analysis of segregation at the aggregate level with the analysis of residential attainments for individuals. Next it shows how segregation analysis can be extended by using multivariate attainment models to assess the impact of group membership (i.e., the level of segregation for a city) while including controls for other relevant individual characteristics (e.g., income, education, language, nativity, etc.). It then illustrates how one can use these models to quantitatively assess the extent to which segregation traces to impacts of group membership on residential attainments versus other factors such as group differences in income. The book then shows how micro-level attainment models can be used to study macro-level variation in segregation; specifically, by estimating multi-level models of individual residential attainments to assess how the effect of group membership (i.e., segregation index scores) vary with city characteristics. Finally, the book introduces refined versions of popular indices that are free of the vexing problem of upward bias. This improves the quality of segregation measurement directly at the level of individual cases and expanding the number of cases that can be safely included in empirical studies.

Contenu
Preface.- 1. Introduction and Goals.- 2. Alternative Formulas for Selected Indices.- 3. Overview of the Difference of Means Framework.- 4. Index-Specific Implementations of Difference of Means Formulations.- 5. Index Differences in Registering Area Group Proportions.- 6. Empirical Relationships among Indices.- 7.Distinctions between Displacement and Separation.- 8. Further Comments on Differences between Displacement and Separation.- 9. Unifying Micro-Level and Macro-Level Analysis of Segregation.- 10. New Options for Investigating Macro-Level Variation in Segregation.- 11. Aspatial and Spatial Applications of Indices of Uneven Distribution.- 12. Relevance of Individual-Level Residential Outcomes for Describing Segregation.- 13. Relevance of Individual-Level Residential Outcomes for Segregation Theory.- 14.The Problem of Index Bias and Prevailing Practices for Dealing with It.- 15. New Options for Understanding and Dealing with Index Bias.- 16. Comparing Behavior of Unbiased and Standard Versions of Popular Indices.- 17. Final Comments.- Appendix Chapters (A-F).