Abstract
The modifiable areal unit problem (MAUP) is a serious analytical issue for research using spatial data. The MAUP manifests itself through the apparent instability of statistical results derived from alternative aggregations of the same data. These results are conditional on two facets of aggregation – the spatial scale at which the units are measured, and the configuration of the units used at that scale. The uncertainty caused by the MAUP impacts the robustness and reliability of statistical results. Although solutions have been proposed, none have been applicable in more than a handful of specific cases, although recent work has pointed to some of the underlying causes helping to further our understanding. This chapter charts the scale and zonation effects, and details the important role of spatial autocorrelation and spatial structures in understanding the processes that lead to the statistical uncertainty. The role of zone design as a tool to enhance analysis is explored and reference made to analyses that have adopted explicit spatial frameworks.
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Manley, D. (2019). Scale, Aggregation, and the Modifiable Areal Unit Problem. In: Fischer, M., Nijkamp, P. (eds) Handbook of Regional Science. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-36203-3_69-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-36203-3_69-1
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