A Survey of Family Expenditures in a Low-Income Neighborhood Syracuse, New York

Abstract

of the problems and questions which arose during the course of the study, together with a concluding statement of opinion as to the benefits that might conceivably accrue from further investigations along similar lines. The Syracuse survey was conducted by three members of the De? partment of Economics of Le Moyne College. The initial plans for the survey were drawn up during the latter part of 1965, and all the field work was completed by September, 1966. In many respects, this was a rather unorthodox project. Customarily, a proposal is first prepared, stating the purpose of the project, outlining the methods and techniques of research, and estimating the total cost involved. The proposal is then submitted to a sponsoring agency for ap? proval. If the proposal is approved, funds are subsequently appropriated. In the case of the Syracuse study, the financial grant was arranged even before there was a concrete proposal or a staff of researchers. Actually, the research staff did not know for some time the identity of the foundation through which the funds were to be derived, although they were aware of the size of the grant. This approach may have some merit. Under the circumstances just described, we were able to tailor the work schedule and the project outline to the amount of money which we knew would be available.