Urban Data (College Board AP® Human Geography)
Study Guide
Written by: Kristin Tassin
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
Quantitative Data & Cities
Quantitative data provides measurable data about cities including tracking changes in the composition and size of urban populations
Common types of quantitative data include:
demographics: change in the size, composition (age, gender, ethnicity) and distribution of urban populations
economics: tracking employment rates and income levels
environmental: air quality and energy usage
This information is provided by the census and other survey data
A census tract is a small subdivision of a county used for collecting and analyzing demographic data
Urban planners and policymakers use this data for infrastructure development and forecasting population trends
Examiner Tips and Tricks
The AP Exam often asks about census data. Think about ways data collected in census tracts could be applied in different contexts and how demographic data collected could be mapped to make decisions. For example, a political campaign might want to know how many people eligible to vote live in a particular area. A business opening a new branch might want to know the income level of an area. This demographic data could be used by different entities to make policies and decisions.
Qualitative Data & Cities
Qualitative data tracks individual attitudes to urban life and its changes
It focuses on experiences, perceptions, and attitudes towards urban issues, for example, transportation
The most common forms of qualitative data are:
narratives: personal stories and interviews to see how individuals experience their urban environments
field studies: observational research documenting social interactions in urban areas
case studies: in-depth analysis of neighborhoods and cities to understand trends
Qualitative data helps answer questions about why changes occur and how they impact populations
Qualitative data can be time-consuming, subjective, and harder to generalize across large areas
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