> 1. When sociodemographic factors are controlled in a regression model as
> this researcher did, any variance these factors share with unspecified
> variables is also controlled for. So if there is some cultural factor X
> has happens to be correlated with the sociodemographics, that local
> cultural factor is also held constant by this regression model. Thus
> it's not true that the regression model is only controlling the
> specified sociodemographic variables. Rather, the regression model is
> telling us that when we control these sociodemographic variables and
> many unspecific cultural/social factors, San Francisco is ranked #1.
Okay -- I understand the point being made here (at least I think I do), but I challenge Miles to put this in plain English. Why this secret language about social/cultural factors?
Dennis