Few empirical studies based on nationally representatives samples have directly tested whether the features of a "culture of poverty" actually vary with neighborhood characteristics. The goal of this project, which is funded by the National Institutes of Health, is to examine the effect of neighborhood characteristics (concentrated poverty, racial homogeneity, and their combined effects) on social relations, attitudes, and behaviors for both blacks and whites in diverse economic situations. 

The specific attitudes and behaviors to be examined include parenting practices and goals, trust in people and institutions, and hopelessness and despair; as well as drug use, marital fidelity, and gun ownership.  For the analysis, three years of data from the General Social Survey will be linked with individual records by address to tracts in the Census 2000.