Seraphim AlvanidesSocial Geography, Daysh Building

s.alvanides@newcastle.ac.uk

School of Geography,Politics and Sociology

Why do we need area profiling?The first “area” profiling attempt?

Why? Because we can!

Issues on public understanding

Beyond the “local trap”

Do we need area profiling?

Charles Booth 1889-91:Poverty map of London

British Library MapsC.21.a.18.(295) SE sheet© The British Library Board

Obesity prevalenceGeographical variations in GB

Geographical clusters of low educational aspiration 3: Communities matter

Social Exclusion Task Force, 2008

MOSAIC UK TypesG41 Families on BenefitsG42 Low HorizonsG43 Ex-industrial legacy

The geographical spread of neighbourhoods with lower than expected attainment is shown in red. There are clear overlaps with clusters of neighbourhoods in which young people tend to have low aspirations.

Identifying clusters of the types of neighbourhood in which young people tend to have low educational aspirations could help target support more effectively.

There are clusters of neighbourhoods where attainment is lower than expected; this is visible in East Anglia and the West Country.

These areas share some of the characteristics of communities with an ‘aspirations gap.’ Many are rural areas with close knit social networks, stable populations and poor transport links.

The geographical spread of the three types of neighbourhood with the lowest educational aspirations, ‘ low horizons’, ‘families on benefits’ and ‘ex-industrial legacy’ is shown below left.

The map on the right depicts the 40% most deprived neighbourhoods (Lower Super Output Areas) in which young people achieve significantly lower at Key Stage Four than would be expected given their level of area deprivation.

A range of factors influence young people’s educational attainment. However, we can see a clear pattern between the types of neighbourhood in which young people have low aspirations and those in which they under achieve.

Participation in Higher Education (Hefce 2005)

IMD 2007 for SOAs in Newcastle

The colourful Tyne!ONS Output Area classification, 2001

Beyond UpMyStreet: Just facts?Acorn geodemographic profile of “NE6 5JA”

Does your postcode “define” who you are?

Does your postcode “define” who you are?

Critical perspectives:Neighbourhoods on the net?

Examines the increasing use and sophistication of internet-based neighbourhood information systems (IBNIS) and considers their potential impact on how places are viewed.

“How a neighbourhood is viewed can affect the lives of those who live there and the attitudes and behaviour of others towards them.”Burrows, Ellison & Woods, 2005

Can we improve area profiling?

Context (i.e. area effects) matters, but…

…we need more than “UpMyStreet”

Move away from bland “descriptors” Combine datasets and variables User-defined geographies Beyond the “local trap”?

Beyond the “local trap”The complexity of daily lives

After: Kwan, Mei-Po and Ding, Guoxiang(2008)'Geo-Narrative: Extending Geographic Information Systems for Narrative Analysis in Qualitative and Mixed-Method Research', The Professional Geographer 60 p.454

Home

Midnight23:0022:0021:0020:0019:0018:0017:0016:0015:0014:0013:00Noon11:0010:0009:0008:0007:0006:0005:0004:0003:0002:0001:00Midnight

Mrs Tango

School Home

SchoolPart-time activity

Mrs WelshMr Welsh

Workplace

Beyond the “local trap”Space-Time Geography?

After: Kwan, Mei-Po and Ding, Guoxiang(2008)'Geo-Narrative: Extending Geographic Information Systems for Narrative Analysis in Qualitative and Mixed-Method Research', The Professional Geographer 60 p.455

Home to School:Actual (blue) and Optimal (red)

Why do we need area profiling?

Because “contextual effects” matter

Because we cannot afford not to profile:

Assessing impact of interventions

Ensuring “spatial representation” Reaching all sections of society

Seraphim AlvanidesSocial Geography, Daysh Building s.alvanides@newcastle.ac.uk

Thank you

School of Geography,Politics and Sociology