Abstract:

Most research projects have a geographical dimension - be it a geographically defined survey universe, geographical sampling locations or geographical analysis of the results. In this chapter, we show how knowledge of geography may be applied or can provide added value. Geodemographics first developed in the United Kingdom, based on the Census of Population, and the United States, based on the Bureau of the Census. The first part of this chapter, by Barry Leventhal, therefore describes geodemographics and deals with its development and uses within the context of the United Kingdom; the final part, by Jonathan Reynolds, describes how the principles and applications of geodemographics have spread, especially in recent years, to many other countries.