Developing a web‐based e‐research facility for socio‐spatial analysis to investigate relationships between voting patterns and local population characteristics

Abstract

This paper describes the development of an e‐research facility for socio‐spatial analysis. It is illustrated with the example of a prototype Web‐based GIS and statistical application for the analysis, modelling and visualisation of the relationships between patterns of voting at the 2007 Australian federal election and the demographic and socio‐economic characteristics of local populations using 2006 census data. The facility incorporates a web‐based GIS which can generate maps displaying patterns of voting for political parties across polling booths with overlay data showing the population characteristics living within the surrounding polling booth catchments. Various classification approaches including equal interval, quantile, median‐based natural breaks, and location quotients can be used to generate different map displays. Statistical analysis functionality ‐ such as regression analysis, cluster analysis and discriminant analysis ‐ enables researchers to conduct on‐line statistical modelling and the visualisation of outputs. This prototype facility not only gives researchers and students on‐line access to socio‐spatial datasets through a metadata directory, but also enhances the capacity and capability of researchers and students to undertake spatially integrated social science research.