Rural Sociology as a Field of Research in the Agricultural Experiment Station

Agricultural experiment stations have been slow to appreciate sociology, partly because of the division among rural sociologists. One view, represented by Gillette, thinks of rural sociology largely as a general technology to improve rural life. The other view, represented by Sanderson, holds that sociology is incompetent to deal with the total reality of rural life and is not concerned with right ways of action. The best approach is middle ground. Rural sociology is applied sociology. Like forestry in relation to botany, it can make valuable contributions to the parent science by testing its theoretical generalizations. But, like forestry, rural sociology has also its practical problems. The sociologist in the agricultural college will be expected to formulate a program of right action to remedy bad conditions of rural health, public welfare, community organization, etc., because, until specialization goes farther than is in sight today, there is no one else as competent to deal with these problems. Important subjects needing research are (a) the truth or falsity of the conceptions of rural advantages in health and social life, used to keep young people from migrating to the city; (b) the underlying forces in the depopulation problem; (c) standards of living; (d) rural groups and institutions. There should be no comprehensive effort to standardize research in the several states, though a more or less uniform approach to rural migration and standards of living would have advantages. Some research in rural sociology needs to be carried on in the country and the city at the same time, and some needs to be kept up for a long period in a specific area.