Modifiable Areal Unit Problem

The Modifiable Areal Unit Problem (MAUP) is an issue in geographic analysis where the results can change depending on how data is divided into areas, such as neighborhoods or districts. Essentially, the way you group data—like dividing a city into different zones—can influence the patterns or trends you observe. Different boundaries or sizes can lead to different conclusions, making analysis sensitive to the choice of area boundaries. MAUP highlights the importance of carefully selecting and understanding the spatial units used in geographic studies to avoid misleading results.