Purpose of the Interpretation Boundary Module
This module defines the interpretation boundaries that apply when institutional users engage with listing-based residential data for Johannesburg. Its purpose is to clarify how far observations can be extended without introducing unsupported assumptions. The focus is on preventing extrapolation beyond what the dataset can structurally represent.
Visibility Versus Underlying Residential Conditions
Listing-based data captures visibility events generated through publication and rotation on formal platforms. These events do not provide direct access to underlying residential conditions such as total housing stock, occupancy patterns, or household behavior. Interpretation must therefore remain anchored to what is observable rather than inferred.
Scale-Specific Interpretation Limits
At the city level, interpretation is limited to understanding where listings circulate in aggregate. At the submarket level, interpretation can address differences in visibility mechanics and boundary effects. At the district level, interpretation can describe localized publication structures. None of these scales support conclusions about residential scale, intensity, or completeness.
Non-Transferability of Observations
Observations derived within one spatial boundary should not be transferred to another without adjustment. Differences in housing form, management structure, and platform participation mean that similar visibility patterns can arise from different underlying conditions. This non-transferability defines a strict boundary on comparative interpretation.
Aggregation and Extrapolation Constraints
Aggregated views compress heterogeneous visibility dynamics into simplified representations. While useful for orientation, they cannot support extrapolation to finer scales or assumptions about residential composition. Interpretation must stop at the point where aggregation removes boundary-specific meaning.
Institutional Use Without Inference
For institutional users, the dataset supports structured reading of how residential listings appear and circulate within Johannesburg. It does not support inference about outcomes, performance, or latent market conditions. This module establishes a final boundary that separates observation from assumption across all residential analyses.