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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2017 Jul 1.
Published in final edited form as: Epidemiology. 2016 Jul;27(4):518–524. doi: 10.1097/EDE.0000000000000470

TABLE 1.

Nuisance Variables and Their Relationship with Overall Quality of the Observed Neighborhood Environment

Characteristic Not Observed by Researcher Relationship with Neighborhood Condition Type of Bias
Market features
 Perceived future neighborhood price trajectory Uncorrelated Random effect
 Labor market shock* Uncorrelated Random effect
 Housing market shock† Uncorrelated Random effect
Neighborhood features
 Neighborhood reputation Positively correlated Upward bias
 Pollution Negatively correlated Downward bias
 View Positively correlated Upward bias
Geographic/jurisdictional features
 School quality Positively correlated Upward bias
 Ease of access to jobs/retail Varies; depends on city geography Varies
 Other jurisdictional amenities (e.g., health care services, city services, etc) Varies; location specific Varies
*

Any unexpected event impacting labor markets is considered a labor market shock. Examples of labor market shocks include the closure of major employment centers, or a sharp increase in unemployment during economic recessions.

†

Any unexpected event impacting housing markets is considered a housing market shock. Examples of housing market shocks include a rapid increase in housing demand generated by economic growth, and a similar decrease in housing prices related to an economic recession.