Simulating Residential Segregation Dynamics: Phase I

种族居住隔离是美国城市的一个持久特征。居住地点和邻里环境是影响个人、家庭和群体生活机会的重要结果。种族隔离在大学课程中被广泛研究，重点关注少数群体、贫困、社会问题和城市地区。有两个问题阻碍了大学生理解种族隔离模式和形成这种模式的力量。首先，研究文献依赖于从专门数据集计算的技术定量指标来记录隔离的模式和趋势。其次，传统的方法用于探索假设的隔离决定因素的影响（例如，市场力量、城市的空间人口组织、家庭偏好、歧视施加的约束等）需要数据分析技能，这是本科生所不具备的。为了克服这些问题，德克萨斯州农工大学的马克·福塞特编写了SimSeg，这是一个计算机程序，它使用图形表示来帮助学生理解隔离模式，并通过模拟功能帮助学生探索有关隔离模式决定因素的不同理论。在第一阶段，Amber Waves Software （AWS）将为教育市场生产SimSeg的测试版原型。在第二阶段，AWS和Texas A&M将完善和扩展该程序，并将其推向商业发行。建议的商业应用：最终的软件将有商业应用，作为侧重于城市地区、社会问题和少数群体的社会科学大学本科课程的教学工具。

Ethnic residential segregation is an enduring feature of American cities. Residential location and neighborhood context are important results that affect the life chances of individuals, families, and groups. Ethnic segregation is widely studied in college courses focusing on minority groups, poverty, social problems, and urban areas. Two problems hinder undergraduate students' ability to understand segregation patterns and the forces that shape them. First, the research literature relies on technical, quantitative indices computed from specialized data sets to document patterns and trends in segregation. Second, conventional methodologies for exploring effects of hypothesized determinants of segregation (e.g., market forces, the spatial- demographic organization of cities, household preferences, constraints imposed by discrimination, etc.) require data analysis skills that undergraduate students do not have. To overcome these problems Mark Fossett of Texas A&M University authored SimSeg, a computer program that uses graphical presentations to help students comprehend segregation patterns and simulation capabilities to help students explore different theories about the determinants of segregation patterns. In Phase I, Amber Waves Software (AWS) will produce a beta prototype of SimSeg for the educational market In Phase II, AWS and Texas A&M will refine and extend the program and bring it to commercial distribution. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS: The resulting software will have commercial application as a teaching tool for college undergraduate courses in the social sciences focusing on urban areas, social problems, and minority groups.