Blau space
Encyclopedia
Blau space consists of the multidimensional coordinate system
, created by considering the set of socio-demographic variables as dimensions. All socio-demographic characteristics are potential elements of Blau space, including continuous characteristics such as age, years of education, income, occupational prestige, geographic location, and so forth. In addition, categorical measures of socio-demographic characteristics such as race, sex, religion, birthplace, and others are Blau dimensions. "Blau space" is a theoretical
construct, named after Peter Blau
, first presented in McPherson's "Ecology of Affiliation" in American Sociological Review Vol. 48 (1983), pp. 519-532. However, a more sophisticated version is presented in McPherson and Ranger-Moore's "Evolution on a Dancing Landscape: Organizations and Networks in Dynamic Blau Space" in Social Forces Vol. 70 (1991), pp. 19−42.
The organizing force in Blau space is the homophily
principle, which argues that the flow of information from person to person is a declining function of distance in Blau space. Persons located at great distance in Blau space are very unlikely to interact, which creates the conditions for social differences in any characteristic that is transmitted through social communication
. The homophily principle thus localizes communication in Blau space, leading to the development of social niche
s for human activity and social organization.
Although the idea of Blau Space was originally developed to consider individuals, it was extended to the context of cities (and other urban units) in Neal's "Building a Blauürban Space" presented at the (Midwest Sociological Society) in (2006).
Coordinate system
In geometry, a coordinate system is a system which uses one or more numbers, or coordinates, to uniquely determine the position of a point or other geometric element. The order of the coordinates is significant and they are sometimes identified by their position in an ordered tuple and sometimes by...
, created by considering the set of socio-demographic variables as dimensions. All socio-demographic characteristics are potential elements of Blau space, including continuous characteristics such as age, years of education, income, occupational prestige, geographic location, and so forth. In addition, categorical measures of socio-demographic characteristics such as race, sex, religion, birthplace, and others are Blau dimensions. "Blau space" is a theoretical
Theory
The English word theory was derived from a technical term in Ancient Greek philosophy. The word theoria, , meant "a looking at, viewing, beholding", and referring to contemplation or speculation, as opposed to action...
construct, named after Peter Blau
Peter Blau
Peter Michael Blau was an American sociologist and theorist. Born in Vienna, Austria, he immigrated to the United States in 1939. He received his PhD at Columbia University in 1952, and was an instructor at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan from 1949–1951, before moving on to teach...
, first presented in McPherson's "Ecology of Affiliation" in American Sociological Review Vol. 48 (1983), pp. 519-532. However, a more sophisticated version is presented in McPherson and Ranger-Moore's "Evolution on a Dancing Landscape: Organizations and Networks in Dynamic Blau Space" in Social Forces Vol. 70 (1991), pp. 19−42.
The organizing force in Blau space is the homophily
Homophily
Homophily is the tendency of individuals to associate and bond with similar others. The presence of homophily has been discovered in a vast array of network studies. Within their extensive review paper, sociologists McPherson, Smith-Lovin and Cook cite over one hundred studies that have observed...
principle, which argues that the flow of information from person to person is a declining function of distance in Blau space. Persons located at great distance in Blau space are very unlikely to interact, which creates the conditions for social differences in any characteristic that is transmitted through social communication
Communication
Communication is the activity of conveying meaningful information. Communication requires a sender, a message, and an intended recipient, although the receiver need not be present or aware of the sender's intent to communicate at the time of communication; thus communication can occur across vast...
. The homophily principle thus localizes communication in Blau space, leading to the development of social niche
Ecological niche
In ecology, a niche is a term describing the relational position of a species or population in its ecosystem to each other; e.g. a dolphin could potentially be in another ecological niche from one that travels in a different pod if the members of these pods utilize significantly different food...
s for human activity and social organization.
Although the idea of Blau Space was originally developed to consider individuals, it was extended to the context of cities (and other urban units) in Neal's "Building a Blauürban Space" presented at the (Midwest Sociological Society) in (2006).