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Articles 271 - 300 of 468

Full-Text Articles in Rural Sociology

Collective Disaster Responses To Katrina And Rita: Exploring Therapeutic Community, Social Capital, And Social Control, Lee M. Miller Dec 2007

Collective Disaster Responses To Katrina And Rita: Exploring Therapeutic Community, Social Capital, And Social Control, Lee M. Miller

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

The goal of this paper is to explore the dynamics of one East Texas community’s responses to hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Literature on community response to disaster forms a basis for reflections on observed local response activities, including convergence behavior. In particular, the concept of social capital is compared to, and contrasted with, Barton’s model of therapeutic community. Social control is a relatively unexplored element of social capital, but one that helps us understand the development of normative frameworks, generalized trust, and the perceived legitimacy of institutions–important factors in effective community response to disasters. In conclusion, implications for future preparedness …

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A Mixed-Methods Investigation Of Community Attachment In Rural Romania, Natalia Buta, Mark A. Brennan, Stephen M. Holland Dec 2007

A Mixed-Methods Investigation Of Community Attachment In Rural Romania, Natalia Buta, Mark A. Brennan, Stephen M. Holland

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

This article explores the intricacies of community attachment using a multidimensional construct; attachment to the social and natural environment. A central focus is to assess whether attachment to the social and natural environment are distinctively predicted by length of residence, social interaction, and sociodemographic characteristics. Furthermore, this work elaborates on current understandings of community attachment by qualitatively exploring feelings of attachment toward the place of residence. All are explored in the context of rural Romania and communities managing the natural resources available to them. The results show the effect of several independent variables on attachment to social and natural environments. …

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The Impact Of Rural-Urban Migration On Plantation Agriculture In The Niger Delta Region, Nigeria, Albert Ukaro Ofuoku, Christopher Okeleke Chukwuji Dec 2007

The Impact Of Rural-Urban Migration On Plantation Agriculture In The Niger Delta Region, Nigeria, Albert Ukaro Ofuoku, Christopher Okeleke Chukwuji

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

This study was carried out to unveil the impact of rural-urban migration on plantation agriculture productivity in the Niger-Delta Region of Nigeria. Data were collected from 660 rural households and managers/supervisors of 15 selected oil palm, rubber, and cocoa plantations in the Niger-Delta Region. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis were used to analyze the data. Most migrants were able bodied young adults. Labor shortage was experienced by all the visited plantations. Due to labor shortages, most of the plantations could not harvest completely. This resulted in foregone revenue for the plantations. Rural-urban migration significantly and positively correlated with labor …

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Accelerating Rural Growth Through Collective Action: Groups' Activities And Determinants Of Participation In Southwestern Nigeria, Mure U. Agbonlahor, Oluwafemi S. Enilolobo, C. I. Sodiaya, Dare Akerele, Joel T. Oke Dec 2007

Accelerating Rural Growth Through Collective Action: Groups' Activities And Determinants Of Participation In Southwestern Nigeria, Mure U. Agbonlahor, Oluwafemi S. Enilolobo, C. I. Sodiaya, Dare Akerele, Joel T. Oke

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

This study was conducted to investigate the types of activities promoted by cooperative groups and the determinants of participation intensity of members in cooperative activities in southwestern Nigeria. A multistage sampling approach was used to select 326 cooperators (45 groups). Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics, difference of means test, and Tobit regression.Cooperative groups engaged in farm and off-farm activities such as arable crop production, fish farming, agricultural products processing, and produce marketing, among others. Farm input procurements and access to market information (74 percent), cooperative credits and thrift (53 percent), social networking (37 percent), multipurpose commercial activities (21.6 …

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The Texture Of Local Disaster Response: Service Providers' Views Following Hurricane Katrina, John J. Green, Anna M. Kleiner, Jolynn P. Montgomery Dec 2007

The Texture Of Local Disaster Response: Service Providers' Views Following Hurricane Katrina, John J. Green, Anna M. Kleiner, Jolynn P. Montgomery

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

Disasters highlight elements of community vulnerability and resiliency. Effective responses are organized and managed to provide goods and services to survivors while also being supportive of the organizations attempting to meet these needs. Collaboration among local service providers, such as nonprofit, faith-based, and governmental organizations, allows communities to build upon internal and external networks and resources to prepare for and respond to disasters. Using a livelihoods framework, we analyze 139 qualitative field interviews conducted in the Mississippi Gulf Coast and Southeast Louisiana, to learn from the experiences, needs, and recommendations of people working on the front lines of disaster in …

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Mississippi Business Environment Before And After Katrina: Challenges And Opportunities, Domenico Parisi, Steven Michael Grice, Jed Pressgrove Dec 2007

Mississippi Business Environment Before And After Katrina: Challenges And Opportunities, Domenico Parisi, Steven Michael Grice, Jed Pressgrove

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

Valid, reliable, and, most importantly, timely information is the most critical aspect for the design and implementation of successful emergency management strategies. This goal, however, is rarely achieved during the aftermath of a disaster. In this paper, we showcase how we used administrative records to assist Mississippi in evaluating the overall impact of Katrina on the state’s economy. Specifically, we assisted the state in developing a methodology to generate valid, reliable, and timely information on (1) the business environment and labor market and (2) rehiring and hiring practices. This information was used by the state to design recovery strategies and …

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Disaster Recovery In Rural Communities: A Case Study Of Southwest Louisiana, Deborah Tootle Dec 2007

Disaster Recovery In Rural Communities: A Case Study Of Southwest Louisiana, Deborah Tootle

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

This paper provides a descriptive case study to develop a better understanding of the disaster recovery and rebuilding process in the three parishes (counties) in South Louisiana that were hardest hit by Hurricane Rita in 2005. The data come from a number of sources: official documents, news articles, published data, and personal observations. This case study’s implications raise questions about current approaches to disaster recovery. It also suggests strategies for practice, program development, and policy.

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Campus Cowboys And Cowgirls: A Research Note On College Rodeo Athletes, Gene L. Theodori Dec 2007

Campus Cowboys And Cowgirls: A Research Note On College Rodeo Athletes, Gene L. Theodori

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

College rodeo has evolved from small, single-campus fund-raisers, celebrations, and/or competitions into an internationally recognized North American collegiate sport. Throughout its history, though, the sport has received virtually no attention in the sociological literature. In this research note I provide a descriptive summary of member characteristics and selected findings from a 2003-2004 National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association membership survey. I also empirically examine the association of size of place of residency during childhood with previous involvement in rodeo (i.e., before participating in college rodeo). Findings reveal that respondents who spent most of their childhood in more rural areas (i.e., in the …

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Risk Perceptions After A Coal Waste Impoundment Failure: A Survey Assessment, Stephanie Mcspirit, Shaunna Scott, Duane Gill, Sharon Hardesty, Dewayne Sims Dec 2007

Risk Perceptions After A Coal Waste Impoundment Failure: A Survey Assessment, Stephanie Mcspirit, Shaunna Scott, Duane Gill, Sharon Hardesty, Dewayne Sims

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

In mid October of 2000, a rupture occurred at the bottom of a coal waste reservoir owned by Martin County Coal Corporation (MCCC-Massey). Impounded slurry and sludge materials from the reservoir traveled through underground mine works and burst through two mine portals on opposite sides of the mountain releasing more than 300 million gallons of coal waste into creeks and waterways of Martin County, KY. This paper examines people’s reactions to the Martin County coal waste disaster by examining levels of reported concern and perceptions of risk across the impacted community of Martin County in comparison to similar coal mining …

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Quality Of Life On The Agricultural Treadmill: Individual And Community Determinants Of Farm Family Well-Being, J. Gordon Arbuckle Jr., Chris Kast Dec 2007

Quality Of Life On The Agricultural Treadmill: Individual And Community Determinants Of Farm Family Well-Being, J. Gordon Arbuckle Jr., Chris Kast

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

Individual quality of life (QOL) is a critical foundation of stable and cohesive societies. This research examines QOL among Iowa farmers, who as a group have seen their numbers decline precipitously over the past decades as the farm economy has undergone major restructuring processes. Farm families are nested in rural communities, many of which have also experienced persistent population loss and economic decline over the same period. A multilevel modeling approach is employed to examine determinants of subjective QOL over time, using 29 years of longitudinal data. Results point to positive relationships between household income, community vitality, and farm family …

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Alabama Veterans Rural Health Initiative: A Preliminary Evaluation Of Unmet Health Care Needs, Lori L. Davis, Stefan G. Kertesz, Ann F. Mahaney-Price, Michelle Y. Martin, Kroshona D. Tabb, Kristin M. Pettey, Sandre F. Mcneal, U. Shanette Granstaff, Karl Hamner, M. Paige Powell, Michelle M. Hilgeman, A. Lynn Snow, Marietta Stanton, Patricia Parmelee, Mark S. Litaker, Mary T. Hawn Dec 2007

Alabama Veterans Rural Health Initiative: A Preliminary Evaluation Of Unmet Health Care Needs, Lori L. Davis, Stefan G. Kertesz, Ann F. Mahaney-Price, Michelle Y. Martin, Kroshona D. Tabb, Kristin M. Pettey, Sandre F. Mcneal, U. Shanette Granstaff, Karl Hamner, M. Paige Powell, Michelle M. Hilgeman, A. Lynn Snow, Marietta Stanton, Patricia Parmelee, Mark S. Litaker, Mary T. Hawn

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

The Alabama Veterans Rural Health Initiative aims to better understand the health care needs, health status, and barriers to care for rural veterans. Following extensive community outreach, Veteran Community Outreach Health Workers assessed 203 veterans residing in rural counties of Alabama who either: 1) had never enrolled in VA health services, or 2) had not used those services in at least two years. While 71.4 percent of participants reported having utilized non-VHA primary care within the past year, 33.5 percent reported an inability or delay in obtaining needed health care for one or more services: primary care, specialty care, mental …

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Tim L. Adsit, Small Schools, Education, And The Importance Of Community, Ann E. Theodori Dec 2007

Tim L. Adsit, Small Schools, Education, And The Importance Of Community, Ann E. Theodori

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

Review of Small Schools, Education, and the Importance of Community, by Tim L. Adsit

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Uncovering The Hidden Dimensions Of Rural Disaster Mitigation: Capacity Building Through Community Emergency Response Teams, M. A. Brennan, Courtney G. Flint Dec 2007

Uncovering The Hidden Dimensions Of Rural Disaster Mitigation: Capacity Building Through Community Emergency Response Teams, M. A. Brennan, Courtney G. Flint

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

The increasing magnitude of hurricane damage in the southern United States in recent years, capped off by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, highlights the reality that local people and communities are often the first responders to crisis or disaster. Driven by policy and necessity, rural communities find themselves taking on more responsibility in preparing for and resolving local crises and emergencies. Locally-based Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) are teams of local volunteers, trained to aid in disaster preparation, provide first aid, and contribute other assistance during emergency situations. Focusing on the southern United States, this article explores the rural/urban distribution of …

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Cocoa Farming In Ghana: Emic Experience, Etic Interpretation, Francis Danquah, Stephen K. Miller Jun 2007

Cocoa Farming In Ghana: Emic Experience, Etic Interpretation, Francis Danquah, Stephen K. Miller

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

This paper develops the tension between emic and etic analysis, recounting the experience of life on a cocoa farm in Ghana, from the perspective of an urban youth with familial connections to the rural community. The dual perspective of living in the city along with frequent visits to and summer sojourns on the farm provided an “outsider’s” perceptions of the rural culture. Yet even these dual emic perspectives were insufficient to bring recognition of the underlying economic realities of cocoa bean production that depended partly on migrant labor. That etic insight came later in the United Kingdom, when studying similar …

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"Dirt Farmer" Vs. "Soil Scientist": Representative Tensions In The Constructed Identities Of Farmer-Writers Walter Thomas Jack And Edward H. Faulkner, Zachary Michael Jack Jun 2007

"Dirt Farmer" Vs. "Soil Scientist": Representative Tensions In The Constructed Identities Of Farmer-Writers Walter Thomas Jack And Edward H. Faulkner, Zachary Michael Jack

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

This extended case study of Edward Hubert Faulkner, one-time extension agent turned overnight agricultural sensation, and Walter Thomas Jack, a former Quaker schoolteacher and self-professed Iowa “dirt farmer,” and their respective, point/counterpoint soil conservation classics, Plowman’s Folly (1943) and The Furrow and Us (1946), illuminates key tensions within the fields of rural sociology and agricultural history: namely subject versus object, inside versus outside, and “peasant” versus “professional” practice as they were played out in the American popular and agricultural press from 1943 to 1948. While it is true that Plowman’s Folly, as its title implies, goads the American farmer …

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John Deere Tractors And School Reform: Balancing Economies Of Scale And Quality Of Life, Stephen K. Miller Jun 2007

John Deere Tractors And School Reform: Balancing Economies Of Scale And Quality Of Life, Stephen K. Miller

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

Many school reform reports, many politicians, and typical media coverage attribute today’s reform efforts to the failure of the schools. We need, say critics, to return to the good old days when schools were tough and everybody learned! This essay debunks the Golden Age myth by comparing John Deere tractors to school reform. In the analogy, repeated upgrades of the old two-cylinder motor during the decade of the fifties were associated with the demise of the family farm. The new models were more powerful than the tractors they replaced, but not enough. Eventually, John Deere evolved to the new 4010 …

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My Garden State: Memory, History, And The Agrarian Ideal, Michelle Gillespie Jun 2007

My Garden State: Memory, History, And The Agrarian Ideal, Michelle Gillespie

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

This essay examines the dynamic tension between the memory of lived experience and the formal discipline of history as it applies to the value of farm life and the importance of the agrarian ideal in American society. It analyzes the author’s memories about growing up in rural New Jersey, their critical place in her development as a scholar, and their embeddedness in her moral valuation of rural experience. Simultaneously it conveys the limits of those memories when held against critical analysis, especially in relation to the lenses of gender and race. It suggests that the longstanding appeal of the agrarian …

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Small Town In Global Society, Don E. Albrecht Jun 2007

Small Town In Global Society, Don E. Albrecht

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

The 2007 Southern Rural Sociological Association Presidential Address: After passing through eras labeled as “Small Town in Isolation” and “Small Town in Mass Society,” it is argued that we are now entering the era of “Small Town in Global Society.” Two factors that distinguish global society from mass society are worldwide competition and the reduced relevance of location. Outcomes of the transition to global society include the increased importance of amenity resources and a major economic structure transformation. To survive and prosper in a global society will require community leaders and development specialists to understand the inherent obstacles and constraints, …

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Storytelling As Narrativity: Rural Life Through The Prism Of Social Tensions, Stephen K. Miller, Zachary Michael Jack Jun 2007

Storytelling As Narrativity: Rural Life Through The Prism Of Social Tensions, Stephen K. Miller, Zachary Michael Jack

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

This introductory article provides purpose and rationale for this special issue of Southern Rural Sociology. The remaining six essays represent stories based on the authors’ farm experiences, crafted to explicate the tensions that underlie all of social life. Illustrating the connection between rural life and the world of ideas, the work makes explicit how the often unrecognized contradictions of everyday society are balanced through choices that typically exist at an unconscious, taken-for-granted level. Each author describes a particular dialectic. Collectively, the writers have transformed their narrative to narrativity, the formal imposition of moral purpose on storied form. Although our purpose …

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A Life Lost: The Tensions Between Local Attachments And Cosmopolitan Attractions, E. Carolyn Tucker Jun 2007

A Life Lost: The Tensions Between Local Attachments And Cosmopolitan Attractions, E. Carolyn Tucker

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

This retrospective on a multigenerational farm family calls upon the author’s life experiences to describe the microcosm of a local rural culture. The author uses narrative to consider sense of place and the impact it exerts on native-born locals. Considering the nonmigration of an extended family of third-generation rural cousins who live and farm within 25 miles of land belonging to the family for more than a hundred years, the story contrasts local and cosmopolitan values, raises issues about attempts to “leave home,” describes the tension created when rurals try to become part of both worlds, and examines the stranglehold …

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A Whistling Girl And A Crowing Hen: Changing Productivity And Gender Expectations, Cynthia Williams Resor Jun 2007

A Whistling Girl And A Crowing Hen: Changing Productivity And Gender Expectations, Cynthia Williams Resor

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

This paper explores two conflicts encountered by the author as she earned her Ph.D. in medieval history. First is the conflict the author feels when working on her craft—can written history be considered a credible occupation that results in something useful in contrast to the farm production of her youth? The second theme explores the tension the author encounters when challenging traditional gender roles of both farmers and historians.

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Appalachian And Rural Student Performance Differences On Kentucky's Educational Assessment: Eighth Grade Results, D. Clayton Smith Dec 2006

Appalachian And Rural Student Performance Differences On Kentucky's Educational Assessment: Eighth Grade Results, D. Clayton Smith

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

For assessment and accountability, the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) developed the Kentucky Instructional Results Information System (KIRIS). Because the KIRIS assessment relied on student performance and was “high stakes” for schools, the fairness of the assessment was important. This paper examined whether 8th grade students living in Appalachia and/or in primarily rural school districts perform differently on the assessment than their peers. The four years of data (1993-1996) for this study came from KIRIS Cycle 2 data. The dependent variable was a composite score of student performance on constructed-response reading, mathematics, science, and social studies tests. The study found …

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Editor's Preface, D. Clayton Smith Dec 2006

Editor's Preface, D. Clayton Smith

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

introduction of Doug Smith as new editor of SRS

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From Vulnerability To Resiliency: Assessing Impacts And Responses To Disaster, John J. Green, Duane A. Gill, Anna M. Kleiner Dec 2006

From Vulnerability To Resiliency: Assessing Impacts And Responses To Disaster, John J. Green, Duane A. Gill, Anna M. Kleiner

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

Hurricane Katrina devastated the social, economic, and physical infrastructure of communities along the Gulf Coast, and many organizations responded in a massive effort to meet their needs. Building from a livelihoods theoretical framework emphasizing the vulnerability-resiliency continuum, this research note focuses on informing services provided during post-disaster relief, recovery, and redevelopment. Based on a case study conducted in East Biloxi, Mississippi, we describe a project that included a needs assessment survey and qualitative interviews. Research findings address the expressed needs of community members following the disaster, types of relief and recovery assistance provided to them, and the kinds of social …

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The Effects Of Race, Place, Class, And Gender On Instructional Strategies In Kentucky's Seventh Grade Science Classes: Individual And School Level Analyses, Stephen K. Miller, D. Clayton Smith, Larry S. Ennis Dec 2006

The Effects Of Race, Place, Class, And Gender On Instructional Strategies In Kentucky's Seventh Grade Science Classes: Individual And School Level Analyses, Stephen K. Miller, D. Clayton Smith, Larry S. Ennis

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

This study explored the relationship of student demographics to teaching method in Kentucky’s seventh grade science classrooms for 1997-98, based on performance assessment data (student level N = 21,499; school level N = 264). Students’ perceptions of seven instructional strategies from the KIRIS student questionnaires were placed into three groups: traditional, inquiry-based, and computer. At the student level, these strategies were regressed on race, gender, free/reduced lunch, urbanity of the district, Appalachian status, and Educational Service Region. At the school level, the three approaches were regressed on aggregate school data for these same variables. Findings indicated that demographic factors do …

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Population Change, Economic Restructuring, And The Evolving Landscape Of Retail Activities In The Rural Great Plains, Alexander C. Vias Dec 2006

Population Change, Economic Restructuring, And The Evolving Landscape Of Retail Activities In The Rural Great Plains, Alexander C. Vias

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

Over the past 15 to 20 years, changes such as retail concentration (fewer, larger stores owned by fewer corporations), technological innovation, and new labor practices have transformed the retail industry. These broad changes affect rural communities where the retail sector still employs a large portion of the workforce. When combined with the declining population of many rural areas in regions like the Great Plains, the impact of retail change is even more significant. Explored in this paper is how restructuring in the retail sector is accelerating the loss of retail firms in many rural parts of the Great Plains, a …

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Poet Revisited: A Reanalysis Of Albrecht And Murdock's Part-Time Farming Model, Lisa A. Eargle Dec 2006

Poet Revisited: A Reanalysis Of Albrecht And Murdock's Part-Time Farming Model, Lisa A. Eargle

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

In this paper, I reanalyze Albrecht and Murdock’s (1984) POET (Population, Organization, Environment, and Technology) model of part-time farming prevalence using 2002 data and two indicators of part-time farming prevalence: percent of farm operators working 100 days or more off-farm and percent of farm operators whose principal occupation is not farming. I compare the results of analyses using these two measures to one another and to the results produced in Albrecht and Murdock’s earlier study using 1978 data. Findings from the analysis of 2002 are similar to those produced with 1978 data. However, the findings from the 2002 analyses do …

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Evaluating The Pecan And Sweet Potato Pilot Insurance Programs: A Case Study In The Application Of Utilization-Focused Client-Based Methodology, Terrence W. Thomas, Benjamin Gray Jr. Jun 2006

Evaluating The Pecan And Sweet Potato Pilot Insurance Programs: A Case Study In The Application Of Utilization-Focused Client-Based Methodology, Terrence W. Thomas, Benjamin Gray Jr.

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the application of qualitative evaluation techniques to generate information for decision making in a field setting. To achieve this goal, the paper presents a brief review of the epistemology of the qualitative technique of participatory action research and use focused evaluation. This is followed by an analysis of the results of the evaluation of the Pecan and Sweet Potato Pilot Insurance Programs to demonstrate the application of these qualitative techniques to generate information for decision making in a complex social milieu. The results of this case-study demonstrate the utility of qualitative techniques …

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Nonmetro/Metro Migration: Economic And Noneconomic Outcomes, Don E. Albrecht Jun 2006

Nonmetro/Metro Migration: Economic And Noneconomic Outcomes, Don E. Albrecht

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

Throughout U.S. history, millions of Americans have migrated between nonmetro and metro areas. Both economic and noneconomic factors have been thought to be important in motivating individuals and families to migrate. Economic opportunities have generally been better in metro communities prompting extensive levels of nonmetro to metro migration. At the same time, nonmetro communities have been felt to offer the advantages of safety, being closer to nature, and having more conservative religious and family values. In this analysis, data from recent General Social Surveys were used to compare the economic and noneconomic outcomes for nonmetro and metro migrants compared with …

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The Spatial Dynamics Of High School Dropout: The Case Of Rural Louisiana, Mark J. Shafer, Makiko Hori Jun 2006

The Spatial Dynamics Of High School Dropout: The Case Of Rural Louisiana, Mark J. Shafer, Makiko Hori

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

This study uses data from the Louisiana Department of Education to conduct a spatial analysis of high school dropout. The paper suggests school-level factors influence dropout rates not only within their schools, but also more widely across schools in close proximity. These claims are tested in two distinct ways: (1) by comparing spatial cluster maps of dropout to measures of school processes, effectiveness, and structure and (2) by conducting spatial regression analysis to test whether spatial influences remain after considering school-level predictors of dropout. The findings show school processes, effectiveness, and structure all influence dropout rates. Moreover, findings demonstrate spatial …

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