Freedom from the tyranny of neighbourhood

Rethinking sociospatial context effects

Journal article (2019)

Authors

A. Petrović Urban Studies - Architecture and the Built Environment
D.J. Manley Urban Studies - Architecture and the Built Environment , University of Bristol
M. van Ham Urban Studies - Architecture and the Built Environment , University of St Andrews
Research Group
Urban Studies (Architecture and the Built Environment) (TU Delft)
Copyright: © 2019 A. Petrović, D.J. Manley, M. van Ham
DOI
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https://doi.org/10.1177/0309132519868767
Neighbourhood effects Spatial scale Bespoke neighbourhoods Microgeographic data Sociospatial context
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Published Date

2019

Language

English

Faculty

Architecture and the Built Environment

Department

Urbanism

Research Group

Urban Studies

Abstract

Theory behind neighbourhood effects suggests that people’s spatial context potentially affects individual outcomes across multiple scales and geographies. We argue that neighbourhood effects research needs to break away from the ‘tyranny’ of neighbourhood and consider alternative ways to measure the wider sociospatial context of people, placing individuals at the centre of the approach. We review theoretical and empirical approaches to place and space from diverse disciplines, and explore the geographical scopes of neighbourhood effects mechanisms. Ultimately, we suggest how microgeographic data can be used to operationalise sociospatial context, where data pragmatism should be supplanted by a theory-driven data exploration.