Introduction to Rural Social Science

James H. Copp



What is Rural?
  1. The definition of "rural" is arbitrary, it refers to "non-urban."
  2. In the U.S., rural places are those with fewer than 2,500 persons.
  3. "Metropolitan" refers to places of 50,000 persons or more.
What is Rural Social Science?
  1. Rural social science is the application of a scientific, comparative perspective to that part of our social world that lies outside our large cities. It is the study of life in small towns and the open countryside.
  2. Sociology is the study of the collective aspects of life.
  3. Agricultural economics focuses on farm production and the marketing of agricultural products, but recently, has turned much attention to quality-of-life issues.
  4. Agricultural education focuses on the training of agricultural teachers.
A Brief History of Rural Social Science
  1. Arose in response to rural problems created by rapid urbanization and industrialization.
  2. Farm and farmer movements were important in bringing rural issues to national attention.
  3. The role of the Protestant churches.
  4. The impact of the economic depression of the 1930's.
  5. Rural Sociological Society: 1938.
Basic Principles of Sociology
  1. People behave differently in groups than they do as individuals.
  2. Groups of people socially construct rules for behavior.
  3. Some people have more say-so than others in making the rules.
  4. People generally obey the rules of the group.
  5. There are rewards for following and penalties for breaking the rules.
  6. The rules of society can be studied scientifically.
What Do Sociologists Do?
  1. Monitor Societal Change/Conditions: What's up?
  2. Interpret Social Conditions from a Sociological Perspective: So What?
  3. Suggestions for Change: Here are some ideas.
  4. Help Implement Change: Here's how to do it.
  5. Monitor Societal Change/Conditions.......