Abstract

Geospatial Analysis of Religious Belief and Proximity to Educational Services
Track: Census and Statistical Data
Authors: Anondah Saide, Kevin McCaffree

This spatial analysis of religious, political, and moral beliefs makes use of an ecological approach in the study of belief maintenance. We utilize a survey that tracks individuals' zip code and their beliefs regarding topics relevant to modern day political arguments. The survey measures participant demographics (e.g., ethnicity, educational attainment, age, etc.) and their attitudes towards three pertinent areas: (1) Religion, which includes questions about their religious affiliation, church attendance, and religiosity. (2) Morality, which includes questions about abortion, homosexuality, and the source of their moral tenets. (3) Politics, which includes questions about the role of government. The central aspect of this study investigates the physical relation between belief holders and key social institutions; institutions such as churches, libraries, and schools. This study aims to shed light on the relationship between purported belief and the geographical access to institutions that are thought by social researchers to affect those beliefs.