Article

The socio-spatial neighborhood estimation method: an approach to operationalizing the neighborhood concept.

Department of Allied Health Sciences, University of North Carolina, CB #7122, Bondurant Hall, Suite 2050, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7122, USA.
Health & Place (impact factor: 2.67). 06/2011; 17(5):1113-21. DOI:10.1016/j.healthplace.2011.05.011 pp.1113-21
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT The literature on neighborhoods and health highlights the difficulty of operationalizing "neighborhood" in a conceptually and empirically valid manner. Most studies, however, continue to define neighborhoods using less theoretically relevant boundaries, risking erroneous inferences from poor measurement. We review an innovative methodology to address this problem, called the socio-spatial neighborhood estimation method (SNEM). To estimate neighborhood boundaries, researchers used a theoretically informed combination of qualitative GIS and on-the-ground observations in Texas City, Texas. Using data from a large sample, we assessed the SNEM-generated neighborhood units by comparing intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) and multi-level model parameter estimates of SNEM-based measures against those for census block groups and regular grid cells. ICCs and criterion-related validity evidence using SF-36 outcome measures indicate that the SNEM approach to operationalization could improve inferences based on neighborhoods and health research.

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Keywords

census block groups
 
criterion-related validity evidence
 
define neighborhoods
 
empirically valid manner
 
estimate neighborhood boundaries
 
health research
 
innovative methodology
 
intra-class correlation coefficients
 
large sample
 
multi-level model parameter estimates
 
on-the-ground observations
 
poor measurement
 
qualitative GIS
 
regular grid cells
 
researchers
 
SF-36 outcome measures
 
SNEM approach
 
socio-spatial neighborhood estimation method
 
theoretically
 
theoretically relevant boundaries