Social area analysis.
Introduction.
Ernest Burgess, Concentric Zone theory explain the structure of city and growth. He described distribution of population in Chicago city. The theory has also limitations. It was based on not the American city. The cities every time does not grow in circle form. There is also other theories of urbanisation in contemporary time. The social area analyses theory is explained the city area according to their social characteristic. Let us discuss in brief.
1. Concept.
Eshref shevky and Marilyn William explain the concept of social area analysises in 1949. It analyse the social characteristic of urban growth and patterns by different indicators. It was described urban Los Angeles in terms of three indicators rank, family status, ethnicity.
2. Features.
• It is a statistical procedure, calculated in large scale data for diverse population.
• It is based on Los Angeles and San Francisco. The process is not applicable to all American cities.
• Method is identifies area open by homogeneous group of people.
3. Variables for social area analysis.
a) Social-economic status.
The first variable based on social rank and socio-economic status. The indicators are income, occupation, education etc.
Example- We divide city area in four homogeneous A, B, C, D. Their characteristics is given below.
 |
| Figure 1 |
A area denotes the residents of high income, high occupation and high education.
B area denotes the residents of moderate income, moderate occupation and moderate education.
C area denotes the residents of low income, low occupation and low education.
D denotes mix residences. The people of high income, moderate occupation and low education.
b) Family status.
The area is defined by level of urbanisation and lifestyle. Here, live the people of different economic function and family role. The measure variables are Material status, number of children etc.
Example
 |
| Figure 2 |
A area denotes the residents of joint, medium or big family.
B area denotes joint and medium family.
C area denotes the residents of nuclear, small and medium family.
D area denotes joint, extended or small family.
c) Ethnic status.
It is depends on ethnic status. People belong to different ethnic identity live in the town. Their culture, believe, values are different to each other. The measure variables are ethnicity, mother tongue etc.
Example.
 |
| Figure 3 |
A area denotes the residents of Bengali speaking or Hindi-speaking Hindu.
B denotes Bengali or English speaking other religion.
C denotes the residents of Hindi-speaking Muslim or other religion.
D denotes the residents of English-speaking Hindu or Muslim.
Now, we superimpose or combine the above data and gets:-
A area denotes the residents of high income, high occupation and high educational joint, medium or big family. They are Bengali-speaking or Hindi-speaking Hindu.
B area denotes the residents of moderate income, moderate occupation and moderate educational join and medium size family. They are Bengali or English-speaking other religion.
C area denotes the residents of low income, low occupation and low educational nuclear, small and medium family. They are Hindi-speaking Muslim or other religion.
D area denotes the residents of high income, moderate occupation and low educational joint, extended or small family. They are English-speaking Hindu or Muslim.
Conclusion.
The social area analyses is a tool to describe the urban area or city in different units. It analyse a large area with different indicators. The sociologist used the tool in survey method to analyse the demographic structure of a city.
0 Comments