Sociology of Rural life

The task of revising and bringing up to date this third edition of The Sociology of Rural Life has not been a simple one. Since 1945, when the text of the revised edition was completed, the de velopment of a science of rural society has been pushed forward vigorously. It has not been easy to incorporate all of the more significant new contributions that have been made; and some of the treatments have had to be completely redone. The inclusion of the materials from the 1950 censuses of agriculture and popula tion in the United States, for which definitive results began ap pearing late in 1952, also has demanded a great deal of care and attention. Nevertheless to the best of his ability the author has sought to produce a new edition that, like its predecessors, would be based upon the tested results of research studies in all sections of the United States. In addition he has sought to make more adequate use of the valuable studies which American rural soci ologists and their co-workers in other lands are producing for many heretofore sociologically unknown parts of the world.

Chapter 14 is entirely new, as are various parts of other chap ters throughout the book. It also was thought advisable to transfer the treatments of marital status, educational status, and religious affiliations from the chapter on the Composition of Population to those dealing with domestic institutions, educational institutions, and religious institutions, respectively.

The author is deeply indebted to many persons for assistance in connection with the preparation of the present text. The great est thanks are due those from all parts of the nation, and from several foreign countries as well, who have used the previous edi tions or the translation as texts and have made specific suggestions as to ways in which the book might be improved. Many others as sisted in the procurement of the materials for the illustrations, and to them likewise the author desires to express his appreciation.