Differential Social Contact in Urban Neighborhoods: Environmental vs. Sociodemographic Explanations*

Differential frequency and extensiveness of neighboring as well as participation in and attachment to neighborhood are investigated in urban neighborhoods which have been systematically differentiated through social area analysis. Multiple classification analysis is utilized to compare the merits uf the environmental explanation of differential neighboring with the sociodemographic explanation. When sociodemographic characteristics are controlled, only the most casual and overt forms of neighboring appear to be influenced by differences in the physical and social environments of the neighborhoods. As the intensity of social contact increases, the relative importance of environmental differences diminishes, while sociodemographic characteristics of residents become more important.