Geography of Scale

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Definitions of Scale Why does Scale Matter

Scale of Patterns/Distributions Scale of ProcessesAnalytical/Conceptual Scale

Importance of Scale in APHG Exam

Geography of Scale

Recognize and interpret at different scales the relationships among patterns and

processes.

Geographical analysis requires a sensitivity to Geographical analysis requires a sensitivity to scale, not just as a spatial category but as a scale, not just as a spatial category but as a framework for understanding how events and framework for understanding how events and processes at different scales influence one processes at different scales influence one another. Thus, students should understand another. Thus, students should understand that the phenomenon they are studying at one that the phenomenon they are studying at one scale (e.g., local) may well be influenced by scale (e.g., local) may well be influenced by developments at other scales (e.g., regional, developments at other scales (e.g., regional, national, or global). They should then look at national, or global). They should then look at processes operating at multiple scales when processes operating at multiple scales when seeking explanations of geographic patterns seeking explanations of geographic patterns and arrangements.and arrangements.

Goals of APHG - Scale

Scale Simple but fundamental Simple but fundamental conceptconcept

Sometimes defined in glossary of Sometimes defined in glossary of textbooks, sometimes nottextbooks, sometimes not

The ratio between the size of area on a map and The ratio between the size of area on a map and the actual size of that same area on the earth’s the actual size of that same area on the earth’s surface (Fellmann). surface (Fellmann). The ratio of map distance to ground distance; The ratio of map distance to ground distance; indicated on a map as a bar graph, representative indicated on a map as a bar graph, representative fraction, and/or verbal statement (DeBlij). fraction, and/or verbal statement (DeBlij). Relationship of a feature’s size on a map to its Relationship of a feature’s size on a map to its actual size on Earth (Rubenstein).actual size on Earth (Rubenstein).

Different views at different scalesDifferent views at different scales 1:10,000 vs. 1:100,000 vs. 1:1,000,000 vs. 1:10,000 vs. 1:100,000 vs. 1:1,000,000 vs. 1:10,000,000 1:10,000,000 Large scale (e.g., 1:10:000) vs. small scale (e.g., Large scale (e.g., 1:10:000) vs. small scale (e.g., 1:10,000,000)1:10,000,000)

Scale as “Map Scale”

Scale: mapped out

…

Scale as “Study Area”The size of the area studied, from local to global (Fellmann).Representation of a real-world phenomenon at a certain level of reduction or generalization (DeBlij).The resolution levels used in any human geographic research; most characteristically refers to the size of the area studied, but also to the time period covered and number of people investigated (Norton).

Local, regional, national, global

etc., etc., etc.

Climate

Topography

Political systems

Population

Urban Systems

Agriculture

Economic systems

Culture

Affects evaluation of spatial Affects evaluation of spatial distributionsdistributions

ExamplesExamplesIssues to consider Issues to consider

Absolute vs. relative dataAbsolute vs. relative dataAreal units of observationAreal units of observation

MAUP: Modifiable Areal Unit MAUP: Modifiable Areal Unit ProblemProblemEcological fallacyEcological fallacy

Affects evaluation of spatial Affects evaluation of spatial processes, modelsprocesses, models

Why Scale Matters

Scale and One “Layer” of Geography

Spatial Distribution

(Could be population, diseases, crashes, stores, etc.)

More Dense

Less Dense

Clustered

Dispersed

Random

Linear

Centralized

(Based on Fellmann, 8th ed., p. 17)

Scale and One “Layer” of Geography

Absolute vs. Relative

Scale and One “Layer” of GeographyAreal UnitsClustered or Dispersed?

Population

Scale and One “Layer” of Geography

Random selection?

Global Scale:Religion

Religion at a National/Regional Scale

Local Scale: Religion

Global Urbanization

Regional Urbanization

Patterns seen depend on how data are organized Patterns seen depend on how data are organized ““Absolute data” (raw numbers) vs. “Relative data” Absolute data” (raw numbers) vs. “Relative data” (percentages, rates)(percentages, rates)Definitions usedDefinitions used

When looking at maps, graphs, etc. related to spatial When looking at maps, graphs, etc. related to spatial units of observation (states, counties, etc.), it is units of observation (states, counties, etc.), it is important to know how data are organized important to know how data are organized

““Top ten states in crime” (total crimes? Rate Top ten states in crime” (total crimes? Rate per100,000?)per100,000?)““Wealthiest countries” (per capita income?) Wealthiest countries” (per capita income?) ““Top ten states in agricultural production” (vs. Top ten states in agricultural production” (vs. states most oriented to agricultural production?)states most oriented to agricultural production?)Etc.Etc.

Absolute vs. Relative Data

Modifiable Areal Unit Modifiable Areal Unit ProblemProblem

Modifiable Areal Unit ProblemWe can gather data using areal units with a variety of sizes (e.g., block, block group, census tract, county, state, region, country), i.e., at different scales.We can also combine these areal units in a variety of ways --- aggregation. When we modify our areal units of observation, the patterns we see and conclusions we make will vary.

This is a problem.

Ecological FallacyEcological Fallacy

Inferring from a more aggregated Inferring from a more aggregated scale to a less aggregated scale scale to a less aggregated scale

E.g., Taking county-level or state-E.g., Taking county-level or state-level data and making conclusions level data and making conclusions about individuals about individuals

http://www.jratcliffe.net/research/ecolfallacy.htm

(Fictitious) State-level dataFictitious) State-level data

Percent of Residents Having German ancestryPerc

en

t of

Resi

den

ts O

wn

ing

a V

olk

swag

en

Germans really like Volkswagens!!!

Why Scale MattersWhy Scale Matters

Affects evaluation of spatial Affects evaluation of spatial distributions distributions Affects evaluation of spatial Affects evaluation of spatial processes, modelsprocesses, models

Population change Population change Core-periphery modelCore-periphery modelMultiple-scale processesMultiple-scale processes

Example: Population Change

Urban vs. Rural population Urban vs. Rural population changechangeCentral city vs. Suburban Central city vs. Suburban population changepopulation changeBalance of flows? Balance of flows?

concentrating/clustering or concentrating/clustering or dispersing?dispersing?

Example: Core-Periphery Model

““A model that describes how economic, political, A model that describes how economic, political, and/or cultural power is spatially distributed between and/or cultural power is spatially distributed between dominant core regions, and more marginal or dominant core regions, and more marginal or dependent semi-peripheral and peripheral regions. dependent semi-peripheral and peripheral regions. The core-periphery model can be applied at a variety The core-periphery model can be applied at a variety of spatial scalesof spatial scales” (DeBlij).” (DeBlij).Global

“North” – “South”More developed countries –

Less developed countriesContinental

Europe: N&W vs. S&E? National

Russia, UK, US, Italy, Canada…..Subnational/Regional

Capital/largest city vs. “upstate”/“outstate”?

Multiple-Scale ProcessesProcesses at one scale can influence processesat different scales

Effects of local events on global scale

Escalation of local conflictLocal drought/freeze/ recession within global markets

Effects of global processes on local areas…

Example: Global processes felt in local areas

Effect of Effect of globalizationglobalization on local landscapes on local landscapesWorldwide integration of economic, Worldwide integration of economic, social, political, and cultural activities social, political, and cultural activities and systems. and systems. Decreasing friction of distance, Decreasing friction of distance, communication, transportation, media, communication, transportation, media, mass productionmass production

AgricultureAgricultureDecreasing friction of distance, export Decreasing friction of distance, export markets, etc., effect in local areas markets, etc., effect in local areas

CultureCulturePop vs. folk culture, local cultures and Pop vs. folk culture, local cultures and traditionstraditions

Economic Economic International businesses making International businesses making decisions affecting local communitiesdecisions affecting local communities

Why is this Important?Promotes integration, and better understanding, of individual topics in APHG course outlineScale and the APHG Exam

Awareness of scale has been relevant to previous APHG free response questions

Common errors often related to lack of awareness of scale or misapplication of scale-related concepts

Exam Revelations

Scale of Scale of decision decision making making

processesprocesses

2003 Q&A, Question 1

Intent: … question also gave Intent: … question also gave students the opportunity to students the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to demonstrate their ability to think critically at multiple think critically at multiple geographic scalesgeographic scales (in this (in this case, national and case, national and international). international). Student Performance: Student Performance: Responses typically scoring Responses typically scoring five or six points linked five or six points linked multiple features of urban multiple features of urban system development to core-system development to core-periphery relations in both periphery relations in both Argentina and Germany and Argentina and Germany and at at both national and both national and international scalesinternational scales (though (though the latter was not a specific the latter was not a specific element of the rubric). element of the rubric). Common Errors: Some Common Errors: Some responses evidenced poor responses evidenced poor map reading skills (e.g., not map reading skills (e.g., not taking into account the taking into account the different scales of the map different scales of the map stimulistimuli).).

2004 Exam, Question 3 Intent: … students’ ability to take the concept of population distribution normally discussed at the national scale and apply it at the urban scale.... While [population pyramids] are commonly encountered in course materials, the exam diagram referred specifically to parts of an urban area (i.e., they shifted scale from national to local). Student performance: Some responses suggested that students only understood the population pyramid concept at the national level and provided incorrect discussions of, for example, the role in infant mortality in Part (c).

2005 Exam, Question 3

Common Errors: Several responses addressed urban problems in general, sometimes within an urban vs. rural framework, rather than focusing on the intra-urban scale of analysis. Advice to teachers: Encourage students to focus on the geographical and spatial aspects of the question. Prepare them for questions at different scales of analysis.

3. In the 1990’s the central business and residential districts of cities in the United States became the focus of revitalization process.

Discuss how each of the following has contributed to this revitalization process.

A. Economic FactorsB. Demographic compositionC. Urban PolicyD.Sense of Place

2005 Exam, Question 1

Fundamentally a question of Fundamentally a question of scalescale

At what scale are decisions At what scale are decisions made? made? At what scale is there At what scale is there autonomy?autonomy?

1.The modern state system is engaged in a struggle between the forces of supranationalism and devolution.A. Define both terms and give a geographic example of each.B. With reference to the political and economic geography of Europe, briefly discuss three changes resulting from supranationalism.C. With reference to the political and economic geography of Europe, briefly discuss three changes resulting from devolution.

ConclusionsScale (and the other “Goals” of APHG) Scale (and the other “Goals” of APHG) cannot be considered in isolation from cannot be considered in isolation from the “Topics” of the coursethe “Topics” of the courseRelevance to APHG curriculumRelevance to APHG curriculum

Links across sections of the course Links across sections of the course outlineoutlineCause-and-effect relationshipsCause-and-effect relationshipsSynthesis Synthesis Process-oriented analysisProcess-oriented analysisChanges in patterns over timeChanges in patterns over time

The Scale of This Place……

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Source: Tim Strauss, University of Northern IowaUSGSGoogle EarthHuman Geography, Fellman