Doctoral Dissertations

Ying-Nan Lin

Date of Award

6-1974

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Major

Agricultural Economics

Major Professor

Charles L. Cleland

Committee Members

M.B. Bodenhop, Luther H. Keller, H.A. Lasater

Abstract

The widespread interest In rural development in recent years has led to programs and activities in rural areas but very limited evidence of success in resolving the problems for which they were designed. The present study presents an approach to identification of the needs of the people living in a rural area, objective measurement of the direction of change and current status of the areas identified as needing improvement, and an indication of the effect on other areas of living of the improvement in any one. Rural development is defined as the improvement of any one or more facets of rural living when there is no concomitant resultant deterioration of other facets.

The data base for the study included interviews from a random area sample of rural households in four Tennessee counties plus interviews from a purposely selected group identified as "knowledgeables" because of positions occupied and their long term residence in the county. In addition secondary data from the censuses of population, agriculture, housing and governments and selected state sources were utilized. Areas were identified as needing improvement if the sample respondents classified them as having gotten worse since 1960 or rated them as only fair or poor in 1972 or if the constructed indicators showed a downward trend.

Least squares regression analysis was applied to identify the interactional relationship between each facet and the socio-economic characteristics of rural people. A rate of change matrix was constructed for each county based on the Indicators developed for each facet of the socioeconomic environment and each socioeconomic characteristic of the county residents Included In the study with entries other than zero being made only where significant relationships were found based on the sample survey. From the rate of change matrix the effect of Improvement In any one facet on other facets was determined and Identification made of the trade off and supplementary relationships between facets.

The results of the study provide a guide to those concerned with development In the study counties and a procedure which could be followed In any locality. The study also Identified gaps in the data base needed for the construction of useful social Indicators with the most glaring gaps relating to churches and religious involvement. Other data short areas Included Informal social participation, recreation and certain family characteristics such as health condition of family members and specific age structure within the household.

Comparison of the four study counties showed differing patterns of trade off and supplementary relations between the various facets of the socioeconomic environment which appeared to be related to the differing degrees of Industrialization In the counties.

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