Isolation index

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Isolation index measures the degree to which people inhabit geographic units inhabited primarily by members of their own group. It is usually denoted by I. It varies from 0 to 1.0 and is defined as the proportion of own-group members in the unit of the average person. In measuring black isolation, for example, a score of 1.0 means that the average black person lives in a neighborhood that is 100 percent black, and a score approaching 0 means that this person lives in a neighborhood where he or she is nearly the only black resident. [1] They have been used in studies of racial segregation [2] and ideological segregation. [3] [4] Isolation index is not invariant to relative size of group.

Contents

Examples of isolation indices include Lieberson's isolation index and Bell's isolation index. [5]

Formula

The formula to compute the isolation index is given by:

where is the population of group in region , is the population of group in region , is the total population of group .

Numerical Example

Consider the following distribution of white and black population across neighborhoods.

NeighborhoodWhiteBlack
A10050.01
B100100.036
C100100.036
Total300250.082

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References

  1. Massey, Douglas S.; Denton, Nancy A. (December 1988). "The Dimensions of Residential Segregation". Social Forces. 67 (2): 281. doi:10.2307/2579183. ISSN   0037-7732. JSTOR   2579183.
  2. "SexRacial Residential Segregation Measurement Project". Population Studies Center, University of Michigan. Archived from the original on 2011-05-17. Retrieved 2010-12-06.
  3. Chadwick Matlin; Jeremy Singer-Vine; Chris Wilson (April 29, 2010). "Escape From the Echo Chamber". Slate magazine.
  4. Matthew Gentzkow; Jesse M. Shapiro (3 November 2011). "Ideological Segregation Online and Offline". Quarterly Journal of Economics.
  5. Robinson, V. (1980). "Lieberson's Isolation Index; A Case Study Evaluation". Area. 12 (4): 307–312. JSTOR   20001630.

See also