Variability evaluation method of socio-geographic and educational parameters.

This paper introduces a method for variability evaluation of a given region (or group of regions) over a given time period, based on the application of a vector of coefficients of variation for socio-geographic and educational parameters. This method introduces a variability measure that implies differences in the quantitative behaviour of these parameters. Classes of similar regions were obtained using k-means cluster analysis. This paper introduces a new general means of educating students about the similarities and differences among regions over a given time period using observed parameters. We applied this method for the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is divided in ten cantons and 79 municipalities, using data from the Institute for Statistics of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Using this method, major differences in variability were detected in the socio-geographic and educational parameters considered in the paper. Positive socio-geographic and educational parameters were established for 15 municipalities and markedly negative ones for 12 municipalities. With the introduction of the k-means grouping method, it was possible to form five classes of municipalities in which variational measures were different for each class. There were obvious differences between the municipalities of Sarajevo Canton and urban municipalities such as the City of Zenica, the City of Tuzla, and the City of Široki Brijeg, evident in relation to the number of spatially smaller municipalities and border municipalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]