Political scientists long claimed that racial and ethnic context profoundly shapes individual attitudes. However, conventional measures rely on imprecise geographic containers to define this exposure.
This paper introduces a novel dataset—tracking over 400 people via GPS—with unprecedented detail about daily life environments.
🔍 Data & Methods
The study analyzes more than 2.6 million GPS records from individuals across various regions. This represents an innovative shift away from static census data toward dynamic, real-time location tracking that captures nuanced everyday experiences.
📊 Key Findings
When compared to traditional geographic measures, this precise dataset demonstrates a significant discrepancy: seemingly diverse areas appear much more homogeneous than their statistical boundaries suggest.
🌍 Why It Matters
The findings reveal how standard static methods tend to exaggerate differences in racial and ethnic exposure. This suggests major reinterpretations of existing research on political representation and public opinion are needed.
