Methods used in Rural Sociology

In spite of the difficulties in the scientific study of rural society that we have seen above, rural sociology, which studies it, is believed to be a science which makes use of the statistical and social survey methods and also of the other scientific methods. Though it is true that scientific method cannot be applied to the study of the rural society as it can be to the natural sciences, there is no reason why the study of the rural society should not be done according to a method recognized by science if such a method can with facility, be used in social sciences like psychology, social psychology, economics, political science etc. If seriously though over, it will be quite evident that the above difficulties which confound the study of the rural society, also arise in the study of all psychological and economic activities. But, nevertheless, psychology and economics respectively use the scientific method. All that can be said with regard to these difficulties is that the scientific study of the rural society is far more difficult, less realistic, less definite and less objective that is the case with the study of physical objects. But, in the future, some progress can be made in this direction, although undoubtedly it will entail a certain amount of effort, with the result that the subject can become more conducive to rural scientific study.

We are now in a position to acquaint the reader briefly with the different methods which are applied to the study of the rural society. The major methods of investigation used by rural sociology are the following:

1. Questionnaire.
2. Schedule.
3. Interview.
4. Participant Observation.
5. Social Survey.
6. Social Research.
7. Statistical methods.

A. Questionnaire

In social research the questionnaire is used comprehensively. In the questionnaire method, as is evident from the name a list of such questions is compiled, which throw light upon the different aspects of the problem. Usually the questions are accompanied by ‘yes’ and ‘no’ as their answer and the information has to reject the wrong answer. The questionnaire method has several difficulties. Often, people prevaricate in answering the questions. Sometimes the questions are so framed that they are interpreted differently by the observer and the informant. Quite often the questions are answered without grasping their full significance. Notwithstanding there difficulties the questionnaire method is, by far, the most popular method in rural social research.

B. Schedule

The schedule method resembles the questionnaire to some extent, in as much as it, too, requires a list of questions, the answers to which supply the data. But these questions are taken by the observer to the informant and filled by the observer himself. Usually, this method is made use of only in a limited sphere. The data compiled by this method is more valid, but compared to the questionnaire method, it involves more time, energy and money. This method achieves greater minuteness in detail.

D. Interview 

In the interview method, evidently enough, the observer faces the informant and questions him across the table, noting down the information which the questions elicit. This certainly does elicit much useful information which the informant can offer indirectly cannot be expected in a direct interview. Actually, much of the success of the interviewer depends upon his individual ability. If the informant shows hesitation because the information is being transcribed, a tape recorder may be used.

E. Participant Observation 

As is evident by the name, in the participant observation method, the observer participates with the people whom he is observing. This gives him the opportunity to come into direct contact with the people who are to provide him with his information and obtain much useful information. This provides much detailed information along with the facility of its execution. But this method involves extensive use of time, money and energy. Yet, in spite of these defects, it assists in a profound study of rural and primitive groups, because other methods like the questionnaire method do not prove efficacious about them. This method finds an uninhibited use in many anthropological studies.

F. Social Survey

Social survey is intended to be the study of the social aspect of a community’s composition and activities. It aims at the collection of quantitative facts. It makes a concrete study of society, especially the social problems inherent in the society. It presets program for improvement and development. It is conducted with fixed geographical limit; it is related to problems of social importance and assists in formulating constrictive programs.

G. Social Research 

Another important method or rural study is social research. Social research is the discovery of new truths about society. It is a systematic method of discovering new facts or verifying old facts, their sequences, inter-relationship, causal explanations and natural laws. In this way, social research or investigation discovers new facts about social activities, social circumstances, social assumptions, social groups, social values or social institutions etc. and investigates the old facts on these subjects. It locates inter relationship or causal relations among social incidents. It locates those natural laws which stimulate different phenomena in social life.

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RURAL SOCIOLOGY BY RAJENDRA KUMAR SHARMA