Dimensional Analysis of Social Science Data: An Unconventional Approach

By consideration and analysis of the dimensional nature of areal space, this article provides a useful perspective from which to consider the dimensionality of data used in teaching about social science concepts. We start from the perspective of a dimensional structure that is already known and describe it. We then strata sample items from this domain of content. Finally, we examine how inferences about the underlying dimensional nature of space can be inferred from perceptual data. Problems are discussed in the use of procedures designed to describe and adjust the indices of our empirical property space so that they more accurately reflect our theoretical concerns.