Research in Rural Sociology

Abstract

It is doubtful whether rural social investigation has thus far attained the status of research. It has been on too narrow a base both geographically and in sustained pursuit of basic facts and trends. The passage of the Purnell law provide for sufficient research funds at the state agricultural experiment stations to make it possible and probable that hundreds of thousands of dollars will be spent in the next few years in rural social research. In addition, other public bureaus and endowed agencies are doing research in the field. During the year 1926 there were almost one hundred specific research projects being carried on in rural sociology in the United State. Many rural sociologists are poorly trained in the fundamentals of sociology and in research technique. Many agricultural experiment station directors do not yet see the significance of social investigation. Rural sociology is in competition for funds with so-called more practical projects. Rural sociologists must, therefore, stop following fads fancies and consistently pursue basic and fundamental researches. The rural environment is comparatively, simple. Research in this field, as elsewhere, is conditioned by two conditions: knowing what is most important to discover, and knowing how to discover it. Research consists of (I) discovering new facts, (2) determining the consequence of known facts, (3) developing a body of principles, (4) developing a methodology. Rural sociologists should seek to do all these things. The first task before the rural sociologists is to develop research methods and trained research workers. The second task is that of developing an appreciation of rural social research on the part of those responsible for research funds and research programs. With the Purnell funds available, a division of rural social research in the Bureau of Agricultural Economics of the United States Department of Agriculture, and a number of endowed agencies now doing research in this field, the future is promising. Universities should also enlarge their research programs to include this field.