Units of Analysis (UA) UA –are those units we use to describe in order to create summary descriptions of all such units & Explain differences among them

Four major Units of Analysis– 1. Individuals – most typical UA in social science: gender, race, income, gpa… Example. 1. Older people are more afraid of crime than younger people. Variables: Age and fear of crime

2. Groups – family and small frienship groups (narrowly defined) Social groups – another unit of analysis. When analyze groups, the focus is group characteristics – not individuals within groups. Example: compare single vs. double parents family in terms of poverty rate, delinquency… Gangs: compare Asian gangs vs. Latino gangs in terms of criminal activity and group cohesion

3. Organizations Organization – another important unit of analysis. When organization is the UA, the focus is on organizations’ features – not on Individuals within the organization Example: company, college, mental hospitals – compare the size of organization

4. Geographic areas Geo- areas --another common UA. It includes neighorhoods, cities, nations… Example 1: The greater the growth air traffic at the city's airport, the greater the economic growth Vars: growth of air traffic and Economic growth in the city. example 2. Economic development in a country affects the birth rate. Vars: Eco Develop. & birth rate –Symmetric Measures Value Apporx. Sig Nominal