The researchers used spatial data and mapping tools to study the distribution of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Jiangxi Province from 1997 to 2007. They found that the spatial pattern of FDI in the province showed significant positive autocorrelation, meaning that areas with high FDI were clustered together, as were areas with low FDI. The distribution of FDI in Jiangxi Province tends to be concentrated in high-density regions that are close to each other, while low-density regions also tend to be clustered together.