Deterministic dynamics in questionnares in the social sciences

In this thesis a novel mathematical technique for the analysis of longitudinal surveys in the social sciences is given. This analysis maps the longitudinal data of a fixed number n of demographic variables of a single social unit into an orbit of a single point in the unit square. The x, y−axes d...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Mberi Kimpolo, Charles Lebon
Format: Others
Language:en
Published: 2011
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10539/9248
id ndltd-netd.ac.za-oai-union.ndltd.org-wits-oai-wiredspace.wits.ac.za-10539-9248
record_format oai_dc
spelling ndltd-netd.ac.za-oai-union.ndltd.org-wits-oai-wiredspace.wits.ac.za-10539-92482019-05-11T03:42:05Z Deterministic dynamics in questionnares in the social sciences Mberi Kimpolo, Charles Lebon In this thesis a novel mathematical technique for the analysis of longitudinal surveys in the social sciences is given. This analysis maps the longitudinal data of a fixed number n of demographic variables of a single social unit into an orbit of a single point in the unit square. The x, y−axes denote fitness, and, significance of social variables. A finite set of 2n×n! states in the unit square is thereby defined. Data from the rural Agincourt Health and Demographic Surveillance Site survey is analysed. The data set consists of the following demographic variables: biological mother outmigration, household head is a minor and adult death. For a sample of 2669 households we record orbits for the period 1998 to 2007. Social variables relate to educational progression. The flow of household orbits is found to describe temporary in- and out-migration of biological mothers of children. The densities of the flows show that educational default is associated with out-migration. The method predicts an increase of 52 defaulting households per year for the period 2007 to 2015. This result is facilitated by visualization of orbits and by identification of appropriate dynamical models, directly from the longitudinal data. It is hoped that visualization of household fitness can better influence policy makers. 2011-03-28T10:41:18Z 2011-03-28T10:41:18Z 2011-03-28 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10539/9248 en application/pdf
collection NDLTD
language en
format Others
sources NDLTD
description In this thesis a novel mathematical technique for the analysis of longitudinal surveys in the social sciences is given. This analysis maps the longitudinal data of a fixed number n of demographic variables of a single social unit into an orbit of a single point in the unit square. The x, y−axes denote fitness, and, significance of social variables. A finite set of 2n×n! states in the unit square is thereby defined. Data from the rural Agincourt Health and Demographic Surveillance Site survey is analysed. The data set consists of the following demographic variables: biological mother outmigration, household head is a minor and adult death. For a sample of 2669 households we record orbits for the period 1998 to 2007. Social variables relate to educational progression. The flow of household orbits is found to describe temporary in- and out-migration of biological mothers of children. The densities of the flows show that educational default is associated with out-migration. The method predicts an increase of 52 defaulting households per year for the period 2007 to 2015. This result is facilitated by visualization of orbits and by identification of appropriate dynamical models, directly from the longitudinal data. It is hoped that visualization of household fitness can better influence policy makers.
author Mberi Kimpolo, Charles Lebon
spellingShingle Mberi Kimpolo, Charles Lebon
Deterministic dynamics in questionnares in the social sciences
author_facet Mberi Kimpolo, Charles Lebon
author_sort Mberi Kimpolo, Charles Lebon
title Deterministic dynamics in questionnares in the social sciences
title_short Deterministic dynamics in questionnares in the social sciences
title_full Deterministic dynamics in questionnares in the social sciences
title_fullStr Deterministic dynamics in questionnares in the social sciences
title_full_unstemmed Deterministic dynamics in questionnares in the social sciences
title_sort deterministic dynamics in questionnares in the social sciences
publishDate 2011
url http://hdl.handle.net/10539/9248
work_keys_str_mv AT mberikimpolocharleslebon deterministicdynamicsinquestionnaresinthesocialsciences
_version_ 1719085261222051840