Factors in Community Action Programs

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Community action programs by which community members seek to deal with the challenges of local problems have long been of interest to sociologists. Such programs have served as examples of and testing grounds for action sociology, and they have attracted the social theorist seeking systematic insights into the dynamics of social process at the local level. As yet, however, there has been no attempt to delineate through analysis of a series of comparable action projects the common factors or elements which characterize such programs as they occur in American communities. This paper explores the possibility of isolating and defining through factor analysis the common attributes of action programs. The long-range goal of this research is the establishment of a comprehensive body of principles, both theoretical and applied, for community action. The data of this report derive from the interest and efforts of the Committee on Community Development and Research of the Society for the Study of Social Problems. At the annual 1955 meeting of the Gommittee members proposed ithat an approach to the large and confused field of community study be made through an exploration of the area of community action and development. Recognition was given to the fact that there was little systematic information about such programs, and a sub-committee was entrusted with the task of proposing research which would lead to an increased understanding of issues involved in this field of study. This committee mapped iout a suggested approach by limiting the topic of interest to community action projects which had as their aim some form of planned social action and which involved more than one aspect of community life, thus eliminating projects related specifically to mental health, recreation, housing, etc. The work of the sub-committee was *Grateful acknowledgment is due to the Center for the Study of Liberal Education for Adults for its contribution of funds and staff time.