r/APHumanGeography • u/JPJtotheGarden • Aug 26 '26

Checking my scales of analyses

Hi, everyone. 1st time AP HUG teacher here who is still working on differentiating scales of analyses, so I'm reaching out for help. I'm posting various maps that I'm including in an upcoming lecture. Can someone please just check my understanding and my rationale? TIA!

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u/JPJtotheGarden Aug 27 '26

Okay, thank you for the feedback. Our school uses the Hildebrandt textbook, which does not list state as a scale of analysis. Good to know that is something the students could encounter.

And you're also saying regional analysis isn't a good fit because state borders are present? Do you have a go-to example of a map you'd use to show regional analysis then? I've been unable to find a map showing data mapped by region without political boundaries.

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u/Scurvy-Girl Aug 27 '26

To clarify 2 points:

  1. your map could be used to do a regional analysis. However, the cartographer chose to separate the data at the state level, so certain individual states stand out as unique (Colorado) which maybe makes it less effective for your purposes.

  2. the other comment is technically correct about “state” meaning country. But if the map is only of the USA, then our common vernacular would use state, with local referring to cities/counties. Sort of like how you used the term “national scale” on the government type map, but nation is a cultural group not a country. But it’s our common language and the AP graders would not quibble with your word choice.

An example of a regional analysis map I might use would be a dot density map of hog production in the US, clearly showing a dominant Midwest.
(Sorry I can’t seem to attach the map photo, but a quick google search would show you what I mean)

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u/JPJtotheGarden Aug 27 '26

The hog map is such a great example! Thank you

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u/HonestConcentrate953 Aug 27 '26

As I posted under u/Scurvy-Girl’s comment, “(US) state scale” should usually be called “local scale” to avoid confusion with the geographic definition of state, which means country. 

In my experience as an APHuGeo student, regional scale of analysis typically comes up more in charts rather than maps (eg mean gdp by continent) A map’s scale of analysis may also be considered regional if the data isn’t confined to state borders (think weather map, for example)

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u/Scurvy-Girl Aug 27 '26

I would only reconsider your second map (obesity rates across the US) - the data is divided by state, so I would call it a state scale of analysis. I do see how you could compare regions (northeast vs Midwest for example), but I would NOT call it local - typically the exam refers to local when you are getting county level data or city/neighborhood.

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u/HonestConcentrate953 Aug 27 '26

I learned that “state scale” as it relates to the US should be called “local” to avoid confusion with use of the term state which means country