The thesis analyzes Baltimore City's food network, and seeks a site which has the potential for several factors: site accessibility, renewable resources, solar exposure, and connecting the community. These factors serve as the basis in which to build a hybrid prototype that is able to expose people to the process of food production through a combination of traditional outdoor farming methods and indoor hydroponics in the form of a vertical farm. / Master of Architecture

As educational resources dwindle, school principals are increasingly finding themselves functioning as mediators in financial matters affecting their community and school system. How principals function in this role may impact on perceptions of their effectiveness and on the resources their schools receive. Principals functioning in this capacity need to be studied to identify effective and ineffective strategies for this political role. The purpose of this study is to determine whether notable differences in strategies can be identified between a principal in a school which was allocated more resources and one in a school receiving less. The study is a case analysis of two neighborhoods, in the same school district, that petitioned their school board for an increased allocation of resources. The behaviors of the two principals, their relationships with members of the neighborhoods and with the school system will be examined. By identifying these relationships and key behaviors, insights to effective strategies for principals to use when assisting communities that are petitioning school systems for additional resources are obtained. / Ed. D. / incomplete_metadata

Master of Architecture

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Urban Planning / Master / Master of Science in Urban Planning

本論文之研究目的為：一，發展適用於香港兒童之體力活動相關社區環境調查問卷；二，以此問卷作為測量工具之一，研究社區環境與香港兒童體力活動之關係。本論文之研究共分三個部份。 / 研究一(第2章)選取居住於不同社會經濟地位和住宅密度的四類社區的34名10-11歲香港兒童，採用名義群組法（Nominal Group Technique, NGT)調查了他們認為會影響其參加體力活動的社區環境因素。參試兒童針對問題“有哪些社區環境因素會增加或減少你參與體力活動的意願？提出自己的觀點，並依據其重要性進行排序。共計十六項被參試兒童認為重要的環境因素被最終確定。其中，“充足的照明、“天橋或隧道、“馬路上車較少、“方便的交通、“地鐵站、“康樂場所、“有空調的商場、“空氣新鮮、“有趣的動物和“香水店被認為會增加做體力活動的意願。而“讓我覺得不安全的人、“附近有罪案發生、“夜晚害怕被帶走或傷害、“商場中很難找到廁所、“很多噪音和“康樂場所內人太多被認為會減少做體力活動的意願。上述與體力活動有關的環境因素貼合香港之環境及兒童之年齡。本研究之結果可被用於發展或補充適用於香港兒童的社區環境調查問卷。 / 研究二（第3章）發展了適用於香港兒童的全面的社區環境調查問卷，即兒童體力活動相關社區環境調查問卷（The Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale forChinese Children, NEWS-CC ) ° 該問卷改編自其英文版（ T h e Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale for Youth, NEWS-Y)，並加入了研究一所確定的部f分環境因素。該問卷之重測信度（test-retest reliability)及因素效度（factorial validity)分別以組內相關係數（intraclass correlation coefficients, ICCs)及驗證性因素分析 (confirmatory factor analysis)檢測。樣本為來自香港七所小學的953名4-6年級學生。最終的NEWS-CC問卷由67個題目構成，測量10個方面的社區環境，即土地利用多樣性、交通安全、治安安全、美觀性、行人設施、街道連接性、土地利用通達性、居住密度、康樂場地和污染。結果題示NEWS-CC問卷具有良好的因素效度(滿足模型吻合度標準）和重測信度（分量表之ICCs=0.47-0.86)。 / 研究三（第4章）以1279名來自九所香港小學的4-6年級的學生為樣本，研究了以主觀及客觀方法測量的社區環境與兒童體力活動的關係。社區環境分別以NEWS-CC 問卷及地理信息系統（Geographic Information Systems, GIS)測量 ° 兒童總體體力活動及校外體力活動以自我報告法測量。此外，加速度計被應用於其中361 名兒童測量其在返學日（weekday overall MVPA )、返學日校外時段 weekday non-school MVPA)及週末日的中高強度體力活動（weekend overall MVPA)。環境因 素與兒童體力活動之關係以線性混合模型（linear mixed models)分析，同時控制社會人口統計指標。結果發現，環境美觀性與男生報告的總體及校外體力活動正相關；距離康樂場地較近或距離返學之學校較遠的男生加速度計測量的返學日及返學日校外體力活動均較高，而感知的行人設施與男生加速度計測量的週末日體力活動負相關。對女生而言，距離公園/花園較近及居住在較高收入社區者自我報告的校外體力活動較高；距離康樂場地的距離與女生加速度計測量的返學日體力活動負相關；而距離返學學校的距離、距離公園/花園的距離分別與加速度計測量的返學日校外體力活動和週末體力活動正相關。 / 綜上所述，本論文的研究發展了適用於香港兒童的全面的社區環境調查問卷，並且發現了一些與兒童體力活動相關的環境因素，包括環境美觀性、感知的行人設施、距公園/花園距離、距康樂場地距離、距返學學校距離以及社區家庭收入。上述環境因素與兒童體力活動的關係因體力活動的發生場景、體力活動的測量方式及兒童性別而不同。本論文的發現將有助於今後發展以研究場景及性別特異性的兒童體力活動環境相關因素為目標的追蹤及干預研究。 / The purposes of this thesis were to, first, develop a useful instrument for measurement of perceived neighborhood environment in Hong Kong children, and second, to examine the relationship between the neighborhood built environment and physical activity (PA) behaviors of children in Hong Kong. Three stepwise studies were conducted to address these purposes. / In the first study (Chapter 2), five nominal group technique (NGT) groups were conducted among 34 children aged 10-11 years from four types of neighborhoods varying in socio-economic status and household density in Hong Kong. In each NGT group, environmental items were generated by children in response to the question "What neighborhood environment do you think would increase or decrease your willingness to do PA?’’ Items were prioritized based on the number of votes that they received from children, which served as an indicator of their importance to PA. Sixteen unique environmental items, which were perceived by children as the most important factors influencing their PA, were identified. Items perceived as facilitators of children's PA included "Sufficient lighting"，“Bridge or tunnel"，“Few cars on roads"，“Convenient transportation"，"Subway station"，“Recreation grounds"，“Shopping malls with air conditioning"，"Fresh air"，“Interesting animals"，and “Perfume shop". Conversely, items perceived as barriers included “People who make me feel unsafe"，“Crimes nearby"，“Afraid of being taken or hurt at night’’，"Hard to find toilet in shopping mall", “Too much noise"，and “Too many people in recreation grounds". These PA-related environmental attributes were believed to be relevant to both the Hong Kong context and the children. The findings of this study could be used to develop or complement instruments that measure children's perceived neighborhood environment in Hong Kong. / The second study (Chapter 3) developed a comprehensive questionnaire assessing perceived neighborhood environment for Chinese children in Hong Kong, namely, the Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale for Chinese Children (NEWS-CC). The development of the NEWS-CC was based on the Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale for Youth (NEWS-Y) with incorporation of selected items identified in the first study. The test-retest reliability and factorial validity of the NEWS-CC were examined by intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and confirmatory factor analysis, respectively, in a sample of 953 children in the 4th to 6th grades from seven local primary schools. The final NEWS-CC consists of 67 items, which measure 10 aspects of the perceived neighborhood environment including land use mix-diversity, traffic safety, crime safety, aesthetics, walking facilities, street connectivity, land use mix-access, residential density, recreation facilities, and pollution. The results indicated that the NEWS-CC possesses adequate factorial validity according to the recommended criteria of model fit and acceptable test-retest reliability with ICCs of subscales ranging from 0.47 to 0.86. / The third study (Chapter 4) examined how perceived and objective neighborhood environment were related to children's PA behaviors among 1279 children in the 4th to 6th grades from nine local primary schools. The neighborhood built environment was measured by the NEWS-CC questionnaire and the geographic information systems (GIS). The children's overall and non-school PA were assessed by self-report. In addition to the self-report measure of PA, the accelerometry was used in a sub-sample of 361 children to objectively measure their moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) during weekdays (weekday overall MVPA), non-school periods on weekdays (weekday non-school MVPA), and weekend days (weekend overall MVPA). A series of linear mixed models were performed to determine the associations between environmental factors and children's PA, with adjustments for certain sociodemographic factors. For the self-reported PA of boys, perceived aesthetics was positively related to overall and non-school PA. For the objective PA of boys, shorter distance to nearest recreation ground and longer distance to attended school were related to more weekday overall MVPA and more weekday non-school MVPA; meanwhile, perceived walking facilities was negatively related to weekend overall MVPA. For the self-reported PA of girls, shorter distance to nearest park/garden and living in neighborhoods with higher household income were related to increased non-school PA. For the objective PA of girls, distance to nearest recreation ground was negatively associated with weekday overall MVPA; by contrast, distance to attended school had a positive association with weekday non-school MVPA, and distance to nearest park/garden was positively related to weekend overall MVPA. / In conclusion, the studies in this thesis have developed a useful instrument that provides comprehensive measures of perceived neighborhood environment for children in Hong Kong. Moreover, certain environmental correlates of PA have been identified for Hong Kong children, including perceived aesthetics, perceived walking facilities, distance to nearest park/garden, distance to nearest recreation ground, distance to attended school, and neighborhood household income. Such environmental correlates were shown to relate differentially to children's PA, based on activity context, activity measurement mode, and gender The findings in this thesis would inform future longitudinal and intervention studies by targeting the context- and gender-specific environmental correlates of children's PA. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / He, Gang. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2013. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 148-172). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract and appendixes also in Chinese. / ABSTRACT --- p.i / ACKNOWLEGEMENTS --- p.vi / PUBLICATIONS --- p.vii / CONTENTS --- p.viii / LIST OF TABLES --- p.xi / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.xiii / ABBREVIATIONS --- p.xiv / Chapter CHAPTER 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- PA and health in children --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2 --- PA levels of children --- p.8 / Chapter 1.3 --- Neighborhood built environment and children's PA --- p.11 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Measures of the built environment in large-scale studies --- p.13 / Chapter 1.3.1.1 --- GIS-based measures of the built environment --- p.15 / Chapter 1.3.1.1.1 --- Data sources --- p.15 / Chapter 1.3.1.1.2 --- Key terminology --- p.17 / Chapter 1.3.1.1.3 --- GIS-based measures --- p.19 / Chapter 1.3.1.2 --- Perceived measures of the built environment --- p.25 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Neighborhood environmental correlates of children's PA --- p.33 / Chapter 1.3.2.1 --- Neighborhood built environment and children's overall PA --- p.33 / Chapter 1.3.2.2 --- Neighborhood built environment and children's active travel --- p.35 / Chapter 1.3.2.3 --- Neighborhood built environment and children's location- or time-specific PA --- p.36 / Chapter 1.3.2.4 --- Studies examining neighborhood environmental correlates of children's PA in Hong Kong --- p.40 / Chapter 1.4 --- Summary --- p.42 / Chapter CHAPTER 2 --- Neighborhood Environment Attributes Related to Hong Kong Children's Physical Activity Determined by Nominal Group Technique --- p.45 / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.45 / Chapter 2.2 --- Methods --- p.47 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Participants --- p.47 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Procedure --- p.49 / Chapter 2.3 --- Results --- p.52 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Characteristics of NGT groups --- p.52 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- PA-related neighborhood environmental factors identified by NGT --- p.groups..…53 / Chapter 2.4 --- Discussion --- p.57 / Chapter 2.5 --- Conclusion --- p.64 / Chapter CHAPTER 3 --- Reliability and Validity of the Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale for Chinese Children (NEWS-CC) --- p.65 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.65 / Chapter 3.2 --- Methods --- p.68 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Measures --- p.68 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Participants and procedures --- p.69 / Chapter 3.2.2.1 --- Translation of the NEWS-Y --- p.69 / Chapter 3.2.2.2 --- Identification of environmental items specific for Hong Kong children. --- p.72 / Chapter 3.2.2.3 --- Pilot testing of the NEWS-CC --- p.73 / Chapter 3.2.2.4 --- Reliability and factorial validity testing of the NEWS-CC --- p.74 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Data analysis --- p.75 / Chapter 3.2.3.1 --- Confirmatory factor analysis of the original NEWS-CC --- p.75 / Chapter 3.2.3.2 --- Test-retest reliability of the respecified NEWS-CC --- p.76 / Chapter 3.2.3.3 --- Re-working of unreliable items/subscales in the respecified NEWS-CC --- p.76 / Chapter 3.3 --- Results --- p.77 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Confirmatory factor analysis of the original NEWS-CC --- p.77 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Test-retest reliability of the respecified NEWS-CC --- p.79 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Re-working of unreliable items/subscales in the respecified NEWS-CC --- p.82 / Chapter 3.3.4 --- Confirmatory factor analysis of the final NEWS-CC --- p.84 / Chapter 3.4 --- Discussion --- p.86 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Development of the NEWS-CC --- p.86 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Factorial validity of the NEWS-CC --- p.87 / Chapter 3.4.2.1 --- Factorial structure of the NEWS-CC --- p.88 / Chapter 3.4.2.2 --- Items excluded from the NEWS-CC --- p.89 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Test-retest reliability of the NEWS-CC --- p.92 / Chapter 3.5 --- Conclusion --- p.95 / Chapter CHAPTER 4 --- Neighborhood Built Environment and Physical Activity in Primary Schoolchildren in Hong Kong --- p.96 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.96 / Chapter 4.2 --- Methods --- p.99 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Participants --- p.99 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Measurements --- p.100 / Chapter 4.2.2.1 --- Dependent variables --- p.100 / Chapter 4.2.2.2 --- Environmental variables --- p.101 / Chapter 4.2.2.3 --- Sociodemographic variables --- p.104 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Data analysis --- p.105 / Chapter 4.3 --- Results --- p.107 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Descriptive statistics --- p.107 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Bivariate correlations between PA variables and independent variables --- p.109 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Association between environmental variables and PA behaviors --- p.117 / Chapter 4.3.3.1 --- Association between environmental variables and PA behaviors in boys --- p.117 / Chapter 4.3.3.2 --- Association between environmental variables and PA behaviors in girls --- p.120 / Chapter 4.4 --- Discussion --- p.123 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Characteristics of children's PA --- p.123 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Patterns of PA-environment associations between children's overall and non-school PA --- p.124 / Chapter 4.4.3 --- Environmental correlates of children's PA in Hong Kong --- p.126 / Chapter 4.5 --- Conclusion --- p.134 / Chapter CHAPTER 5 --- Summary and Conclusions --- p.135 / Chapter 5.1 --- Measures of perceived neighborhood built environment --- p.137 / Chapter 5.2 --- Neighborhood environmental correlates of children's PA behaviors --- p.142 / REFERENCES --- p.148 / APPENDICES --- p.A1 / Chapter Appendix A --- Letter to Principal --- p.A1 / Chapter Appendix B --- Consent Form --- p.A3 / Chapter Appendix C --- 兒童體力活動相關社區環境調查問卷 --- p.A5 / Chapter Appendix D --- The Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale for Chinese Children / (NEWS-CC) --- p.A14

Commercial corridors in neighborhoods experiencing change have been relegated to a footnote in research on residential phenomena. It is taken for granted that the process of change experience by businesses within these neighborhoods mirrors that of the residential change. This assumption is often predicated on the underlying model of invasion succession, suggesting that inmovers displace native populations, whether they are residents or businesses. Analyzing time series data on neighborhood commercial corridor change, research attempted to first test data against the invasion succession model to see if it is an effective framework for analysis. Second, through comparison of case study areas and data along the aggregated corridor, insights are advanced to spur development of a valid model for examining neighborhood commercial corridor change as a unique process with regular spatio-temporal patterns. This framework, it is suggested, is the first step towards understanding the impact of external forces, including social actors, on the neighborhood commercial landscape.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South Africa has a long history of divided towns and cities. The grave inefficiencies and inequalities that developed between the racial communities during these periods must now be redressed in post-apartheid South Africa by integrating and unifying the physical and social structures of the country's urban settlements. In spite of the positive general trends in race relations and attitudes towards residential integration, South African towns and cities generally remain hyper-segregated. This could be an indication that White attitudes pertain only to the principles of integration, but that they do not actually want to live in integrated neighbourhoods themselves. The aim of this study is to assess the influence of racial preference in the dismantling or continuation of segregation in the South African town of Vredenburg during the postapartheid era. This is done by determining the influence that the population group composition of a neighbourhood has on the desirability of living in that neighbourhood when accounting for varying levels of crime and neighbourhood deterioration. A factorial survey questionnaire was used to gather the data, which were then analysed by way of multiple regression analyses. The results of the analyses indicate that the sampled residents of Vredenburg are generally not influenced by the population group composition of the neighbourhood. However, the more unsafe the neighbourhood, the more litter that is strewn about, the lower the housing quality and the more unfriendly the neighbours, the less respondents liked the neighbourhood. The results also indicate that members of the upper socio-economic class are more critical of their neighbourhoods and tend to evaluate them according to stricter criteria than the lower socio-economic classes do. The findings suggest that the racial composition of a neighbourhood per se does not significantly affect the attitudes of Vredenburg's residents towards a neighbourhood. Rather, high levels of crime and residential environmental deterioration are the factors that strongly affect both White and non-White people's views of a neighbourhood. Higher levels of crime and environmental deterioration are commonly associated with the lower socio-economic class. In the case of Vredenburg, vast socio-economic differences exist between the White and non- White residents of the town. These differences are not likely to change considerably in the short term. The continuation of these class differences will most likely be the cause of continued segregation in Vredenburg. Keywords: Apartheid city, Centralisation, Concentration, Evenness, Exposure, Factorial survey, Hyper-segregation, Integration, Multiple regression analysis, Neighbourhood characteristics, Racial preference, Segregation, Segregation indices. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Suid-Afrika het 'n lang geskiedenis van verdeeelde stedelike gebiede. Die erge ongelykhede en oneffektiewe strukture wat tussen die verskillende rassegroepe binne die stedelike gebiede ontstaan het, moet reggestel word in die post-apartheid era. Dit moet gedoen word deur die verdeelde fisiese en sosiale strukture van Suid-Afrika se stedelike gebiede te integreer. Ondanks die algemene positiewe neiging in rasseverhoudings en houdings teenoor residensiële integrasie, bly Suid-Afrikaanse stedelike gebiede steeds hiper-gesegregeerd. Dit kan 'n teken daarvan wees dat Blankes se ingesteldheid slegs positief is teenoor die beginsel van integrasie maar dat hulle nie self in geïntegreerde woonbuurte wil bly nie. Die doel van die studie is om die invloed van rassevoorkeur te bepaal in die aftakeling of voortsetting van segregasie in Vredenburg, Suid-Afrika, gedurende die post-apartheidsera. Dit word gedoen deur die invloed van bevolkingsgroepsamestelling op die begeerte om in daardie buurt te woon te bepaal, in ag genome die invloed van verskillende vlakke van misdaad en omgewingsverval binne daardie woonbuurt. 'n Faktoriale opnamevraelys is gebruik om data in te samel. Die data is daarna ontleed deur middel van veelvuldige regressie-analises. Die resultate van die analises toon dat die inwoners van Vredenburg, wie aan die steekproef deelgeneem het, in die algemeen nie beïnvloed is deur die bevolkingsgroepsamestelling van 'n woonbuurt nie. Daarteenoor het die deelnemers minder gehou van woonbuurte wat meer onveilig is, waarin meer rommel gestrooi is, waarvan die behuisingskwaliteit laer en die bure meer onvriendelik is. Die resultate toon ook dat lede van die hoë sosio-ekonomiese klas meer krities is oor woonbuurte en geneig is om dié areas volgens strenger kriteria te evalueer as die laer sosio-ekonomiese groepe. Die bevindings dui aan dat die rassesamestelling van 'n woonbuurt per se me die ingesteldheid van die dorp se inwoners beduidend beïnvloed nie. Dit is eerder hoë vlakke van misdaad en residensiële omgewingsverval wat beide Bruin en Blanke inwoners se opvattinge oor 'n buurt beduidend beïnvloed. Hoër vlakke van misdaad en omgewingsverval word gewoonlik met die laer SOSIOekonomiese klas geassosieer. In Vredenburg se geval bestaan daar groot sosio-ekonomiese verskille tussen die Blanke en nie-Blanke inwoners van die dorp. Dit is onwaarskynlik dat hierdie verskille in die korttermyn beduidend sal verander. Voortgesette klasverskille sal waarskynlik die oorsaak wees van volgehoue segregasie in Vredenburg. Trefwoorde: Apartheidstad, Blootstelling, Egaligheid, Faktoriale opname, Hiper-segregasie, Integrasie, Konsentrasie, Meervoudige regressie-analise, Rassevoorkeur, Segregasie, Segregasie- indekse, Sentralisasie, Woonbuurtkaraktereienskappe.

This inquiry into informal networks and policy negotiations is set in the theoretical framework of network governance. It builds theory to explain informal networks by examining neighbourhood associations in post-Katrina New Orleans through a variety of qualitative methodologies including interviews, document analysis, surveying and ethnography. In New Orleans, neighbourhood associations do not engage in social-service delivery, they prioritise neighbourhood protection and neighbourhood change. They represent their neighbourhoods through a system of intensive volunteering not elections. That system burns out neighbourhood leaders and leaves associations constantly looking for new volunteers. These associations partner with non-profits, work with politicians, and engage in fierce conflict when excluded from policy negotiations. Finally, they set their agenda based upon the physical characteristics of their neighbourhoods, investing in local institutions. These findings contribute to network governance theory. New Orleans’ democracy of volunteers introduces a new form of democratic anchorage to governance theory. Actors in informal networks have varying priorities. This demonstrates the importance of early involvement by these actors in policy creation and the ways in which policy construction can ignore community. Neighbourhood associations blackmail, bribe and coerce to create their own power, showing how power at the micro-level includes not only resources and decision-making, but also interest. These findings fit into a broader theme. Negotiations with multiple actors improve policy by incorporating complex priorities and neighbourhood context into the policy system. This wider theme of how to address complexity is the policy equivalent of the wisdom of crowds. Policy-makers can either incorporate complexity such as local context and differing priorities or face the conflict and consequences of ignoring it.

Ethnicity is a social construct defined not only by socio-cultural variables, but also by the socioeconomic and social structure within which it develops. In this regard, ethnicity is a by-product, and at the same time a contributor to the spatial structure of human communities. The synergistic relationship between ethnicity and socioeconomic variables requires attention to the special environment within which an ethnic community develops, and furthermore, necessitates an awareness of the subgroups of any given ethnic group and their specific spatial and adaptational behavior. Consequently, the superorganic approach taken by most urban/human ecologists and the collective treatment of assimilation studies is questionable. The Iranian community currently residing in the U.S. illustrates that the spatial distribution of post-1965 immigrants and specifically political immigrants is defined by both ethnicity and also socioeconomic factors. The elite characteristics of these groups, including their high educational achievements, occupational status, and self-employment levels, distinguishes them from many of the other ethnic/immigrant groups who migrated in the early part of the century. Additionally, in the case of Los Angeles and Orange Counties, it is demonstrated that Iranians, along with Russians are distinctive based on their high socioeconomic status. The available data indicates the existence of three types of ethnic groups: (a) traditional low socioeconomic groups; (b) elite immigrants with high socioeconomic and educational achievements; and (c) recent immigrants with high educational and medium to high socioeconomic status. Spatially, differences among and within ethnic groups create specific distribution patterns that are explained largely by socioeconomic and ethnicity factors combined. This research illustrates that in studying any ethnic group, two criteria must be considered: (a) socioeconomic and ethnicity factors have a combined effect that differs not only from one group to another, but also varies within each group; and (b) social structure is not an independent variable, and therefore should be identified and analyzed on a case-by-case approach.