The Global Sample of Cities - Atlas of Urban Expansion - is an essential reference to select global sample cities.
Do we have the same at country level? Considering cities as sampling units, how can I select a representative sample of cities for ONE country? For which country is such sampling is done? Would you share me?
Thank you in advance!!
I think the aim of the research is what should inform the selection criteria. You may consider factors like city size, administrative and commercial functions, geographical spread and whether some of the cities are dominated by people from a few race/ethnic groups
The short answer is that human settlements are dependent on where they are in proximity to other settlements. A random sample is out of the question for that reason, because they are not independent and identically distributed. So I try to get information for as many cities as possible. That said, if you are interested in a specific phenomena then you would develop a sampling frame to answer questions about a specific phenomena.
It all depends upon the aim of your research, but very generally speaking, I would select a variety of cities according to criteria such as big, medium, small // industrial, service, argicultural // tourist non-tourist // physical geography // distance from main city of the country, or capital // bordering or inland, etc.You understand that it depends upon what you reserach. In any case I would create a matrix, out as rows the big/small/medium parameter and put on the columns other criteria. Then I would try to put in every cell at least one city. The research will follow on each one of them.
I do agree with Pantoleon. The aim of your research guides its direction but variety in your choices makes your discourse rich.
We are changing the old concept of a "city" with the concept of "smart cities" with samples being implemented worldwide. However that is not representative but a sample of the future city.
I agree with Pantoleon and Abubakar about the aims of the research, that should inform the guiding criteria for the selection of the city to be studied. If those criteria are developed, you may further apply multi-stage sample technique and using the guiding criteria in the selection process> e.g first stage maybe at the national level selection of regions, second stage will be the selection of cities within the selected basing on the criteria
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