Scale and local modeling: new perspectives on the modifiable areal unit problem and Simpson’s paradox

A. Stewart Fotheringham () and M. Sachdeva
Additional contact information
A. Stewart Fotheringham: Arizona State University
M. Sachdeva: Arizona State University

Journal of Geographical Systems, 2022, vol. 24, issue 3, No 10, 475-499

Abstract: Abstract The concept of ‘spatial scale’, or simply ‘scale’ is implicit in any discussion of global versus local models. The raison d’etre of local models is that a global scale (where here ‘global’ simply refers to all locations within a predefined area of interest) might be the incorrect scale at which to undertake any analysis of spatial processes; the alternative being a local scale (where here ‘local’ refers to individual locations). Here we explore two well-known scale issues in the context of local modeling: the modifiable areal unit problem (MAUP) and Simpson’s paradox. In doing so, we highlight that scale effects play two very different roles in any consideration of local versus global modeling. First, we examine the sensitivity of global and local models to the MAUP and show how the effects of the MAUP in global models are a function of the degree to which processes vary over space. This generates a new insight into the MAUP: it results from the properties of processes rather than the properties of data. Then we highlight the extreme differences that can result when calibrating global and local models and how Simpson’s paradox can arise in this context. In the examination of the MAUP, scale is treated as a measure of the degree to which data are aggregated prior to any form of modeling; in the study of Simpson’s paradox, scale refers to the geographical entity for which a model is calibrated.

Keywords: Spatial processes; Scale; Local modeling; MGWR; MAUP; Simpson’s paradox (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Downloads: (external link)
http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10109-021-00371-5 Abstract (text/html)
Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:kap:jgeosy:v:24:y:2022:i:3:d:10.1007_s10109-021-00371-5

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.springer. ... ce/journal/10109/PS2

DOI: 10.1007/s10109-021-00371-5

Access Statistics for this article

Journal of Geographical Systems is currently edited by Manfred M. Fischer and Antonio Páez

More articles in Journal of Geographical Systems from Springer
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().