Individual Paper(s)
Examining the suitability of the “Adjacency Index” as a micro-ecological measure of segregation
Russell Orr
University of Ulster
Ed Cairns
University of Ulster
Shelley Mckeown
University of Ulster
Gordon Rae
University of Ulster
Maurice Stringer
University of Ulster
Background: The Adjacency Index (Campbell, Kruskall & Wallace, 1966) was
developed to provide a mathematical measure of observed segregation during
cross-group interactions. Yet critics have highlighted the complexity of the
equations involved and the lack of “intuitive interpretation” of the generated I-values as a major limitation of this
micro-ecological technique.
Aims: To assess the extent to which a series of I-values, as calculated using the Adjacency Index, correlate with
the perceptions of a number of independent observers when assessing levels of
segregation in a University Lecture theatre.
Method: 49 participants were asked to rate a series of seating charts which
depicted varying levels of segregation, as calculated using the adjacency
index, on a scale ranging from 1 (completely de-segregated) to 7 (extremely segregated).
Results: At the first level of analysis, participants responses were examined
for consistency (.97) and absolute agreement (.96) The second stage of the
analysis involved computing an average correlation between the ratings and the I-values. The average of the Fisher’s zr
scores was found to be –.75 with a standard error of .0505. This was highly
significant (z=–.75/.0505=14.74, p<.001). The corresponding average r
was –.63.
Conclusions: These findings have significant ramifications for future
micro-ecological research. The lack of intuitive interpretation of the number
of adjacencies had been identified as a major weakness that served to constrain
the usefulness of the Adjacency Index as a measure of segregation. Yet these
findings suggest a remarkably close association between the number of
adjacencies and the intuitive perception of segregation.
