To assess the substantive importance of methodological issues identified in a series of critiques of delinquency area studies, a carefully focused reanalysis was undertaken using data analyzed in an earlier study. The modification of factor analytic procedures to avoid mistakes identified in these critiques produced a clearer picture of the factors reflected in the variables used to describe100Indianapolis census tracts but also necessitated alternative treatments of census tract delinquency rates. An examination of results produced by these treatments, which included (1) a modified social area analysis, (2) a modified predictive attribute analysis, and (3) an analysis of covariance, clearly indicates that correction of the methodological shortcomings requires little or no modification of the substantive conclusions about the relative importance of economic, family, and racial factors presented by studies published prior to 1967.