Observational data from 428 dyadic encounters on Seattle public transit platforms measures interpersonal distance as a behavioral indicator of racial avoidance. The study, by Joshua Corona for PS: Political Science & Politics, reveals asymmetrical avoidance patterns, such as East Asian and Hispanic individuals maintaining 18-19 additional feet from Black first-arrivers.
Use Cases
- Analyze the relationship between dyad racial composition and recorded interpersonal distance.
- Model asymmetrical avoidance patterns, such as the 18-19 foot distance maintained by East Asian and Hispanic individuals from Black first-arrivers.
- Compare behavioral segregation in Black-Black dyads, which showed less interpersonal distance, against outgroup dyads.
- Validate survey-based attitudinal measures against observed behavioral data from public space encounters.
Strengths
- Data from 428 systematically observed dyadic encounters provides a concrete behavioral sample.
- Measures specific, quantifiable interpersonal distances (e.g., 18-19 feet) rather than self-reported attitudes.
Limitations
- Sample size of 428 encounters may limit statistical power for subgroup analyses.
- Findings are geographically limited to Seattle public transit platforms.
- Observational data may contain unmeasured confounding variables influencing spatial behavior.
Provenance
- Source
- Joshua Corona, PS: Political Science & Politics, via Dataverse.
- Collection Method
- Systematic observational data collection of dyadic encounters on public transit platforms.
- Time Range
- null
- Freshness
- null
- Geography
- Seattle, Washington, USA.