Spatial Data Analysis in the Social and Environmental Sciences

Product Description


A spatial data set is a data set in which each observation is referenced to a site or area. Within both the social and environmental sciences, much of the data collected is within a spatial context and requires statistical analysis for interpretation. The purpose of this book, therefore, is to describe to students and research workers in the social and environmental sciences the current methods available for the analyses of spatial data. Methods described include data description, map interpolation, exploratory and explanatory analyses. The book also examines how spatial referencing raises a distinctive set of issues for the data analyst and recognizes the need to test underlying statistical assumptions. Further, methods for detecting problems, assessing their seriousness and taking appropriate action are discussed.


Review


"The book is well organized, and the choice of topics and the carefully selected references offer access points to a wide literature base. A modeling approach is emphasized, and the author does a noteworthy job of integrating a complex subject matter into a coherent framework....excellent book." Geoffrey M. Jacquez, The Quarterly Review of Biology

"...this book is interesting, and I like the prominence it gives to exploratory data analysis in spatial contexts." Dale Zimmerman, Journal of the American Statistical Association

"...written primarily for graduate students and researchers in the social and environmental sciences, an audience that should find the book very interesting and informative." Carol A. Gotway, Technometrics

"...can be seen as forming part of the 'next generation' of standard reference works on methods of spatial data analysis..." Journal of Regional Science

"...contains a fairly up-to-date collection of statistical approaches to the many facets of spatial data analysis. It provides an excellent overview of a set of very important statistical tools, at all levels of application." Hyejung Chang, Chance


Book Description


Data description, map interpolation, exploratory and explanatory analyses are among the methods described that are currently available for the analyses of spatial data to students and research workers in the social and environmental sciences.


About the Author


Robert Haining is Professor of Human Geography at the University of Cambridge.