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

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