484 RURAL SOCIOLOGY 



simplicity of structure, tangible framework, and readability 

 which American magazine men have developed as their technique 

 in writing for a democracy. This is not a counsel, bear in mind, 

 of flimsy sensationalism; although those who have matters to 

 conceal seek to confuse the two. A startling article patched up 

 from a few glints of fact is a very different proposition from a 

 crystal set in a matrix of tested information. 



Underlying this factor of graphic portrayal is the factor of 

 truth; truth plus publicity. It is often possible to work out 

 large and definite reforms internally, by getting a group of 

 forceful men around a table and convincing them that so and 

 so is the right thing to do. This is, I take it, a legitimate 

 method of philanthropic work and of social reform. But it is 

 not the method of a survey. The survey's method is one of 

 publicity; it is another and separate implement for social ad- 

 vance, and its usefulness should not be negatived by a failure 

 to hold to its distinctive function. The philosophy of the sur- 

 vey is to set forth before the community all the facts that bear 

 on a problem, and to rely upon the common understanding, the 

 common forethought, the common purpose of all the people as 

 the first great resource to be drawn upon in working that prob- 

 lem out. Thus conceived, the survey becomes a distinctive and 

 powerful implement of democracy. 



A METHOD OF MAKING A SOCIAL SURVEY OF A 

 RURAL COMMUNITY * 



C. J. GALPIN 

 AN ANALYSIS OF A RURAL COMMUNITY 



What Is a Rural Community? There are three fundamen- 

 tal types of association in well developed country life: homes, 

 neighborhoods, communities. A neighborhood is a collection of 

 homes having one or two important common interests such as a 

 district school, or a mill, or an open-country church. The 

 neighborhood may be a number of homes somewhat near together 



1 Adapted from Circular 29, the UniversHy of Wisconsin Agricultural 

 Experiment Station, Madison. 



