Text 1: Urban sociologist Dr. Maria Santos studies neighborhood effects. "Concentrated poverty creates compounding disadvantages," Santos writes. "Resources, role models, and networks cluster geographically. Where you live shapes your opportunities."
Text 2: Economist Dr. Kevin Park examines mobility programs. "Moving low-income families to affluent neighborhoods shows mixed results," Park reports. "Some children benefit; others struggle with dislocation. Neighborhood effects may be smaller than selection effects—who moves and who stays."
What methodological concern does Park raise about attributing outcomes to neighborhood effects?
That neighborhoods don't actually exist
That observed effects might reflect who chooses to live where rather than neighborhood influence
That poverty has no measurable consequences
That children never move between neighborhoods
Correct Answer: B
Choice B is the correct answer. Park notes "selection effects"—different people end up in different neighborhoods. Observed differences might reflect pre-existing individual differences, not neighborhood causation.
- Evidence: Park: "who moves and who stays" may explain differences.
- Reasoning: Correlation between neighborhood and outcome has multiple explanations.
- Conclusion: Selection confounds neighborhood effect estimates.
Choice A is incorrect because Park studies neighborhoods. Choice C is incorrect because Park acknowledges some children benefit. Choice D is incorrect because Park studies mobility programs.