Purpose of the Temporal Distortion Module
This module explains the risk of temporal distortion when interpreting listing-based residential data for Johannesburg. Its purpose is to clarify how publication cycles, rotation behavior, and platform practices create time-based patterns that do not correspond to changes in underlying residential conditions.
Listings as Time-Stamped Visibility Events
Each residential listing represents a time-stamped visibility event rather than a continuous presence of a residential unit. Listings appear and disappear according to marketing decisions, platform rules, and intermediary practices. Time in the dataset therefore reflects when visibility occurred, not how long a residence existed or was occupied.
Rotation Cycles and Apparent Momentum
Rotation cycles can generate apparent momentum or fluctuation in listing activity over time. Repeated relisting of similar units creates sequences that resemble trends or cycles. These sequences are artifacts of publication behavior and should not be interpreted as evidence of residential expansion, contraction, or temporal change.
Asynchronous Timing Across Districts
Different districts and housing formats follow distinct publication rhythms. Managed developments may release listings in coordinated batches, while individually managed properties appear sporadically. When observed together, these asynchronous patterns distort aggregate time-based readings and obscure the mechanisms that generate visibility.
Aggregation Effects on Temporal Interpretation
Aggregating listings across time periods compresses rotation-driven visibility into simplified timelines. This compression encourages interpretation of continuity or change where none can be supported. Temporal aggregation therefore amplifies distortion by masking the episodic nature of listing publication.
Interpretation Boundaries for Time-Based Data
This module establishes a boundary against interpreting temporal variation in listing data as indicative of residential dynamics. Time-based patterns should be read strictly as descriptions of publication behavior. Institutional users should avoid extrapolating temporal visibility into assumptions about residential evolution.