Source: TEXAS A&M UNIV submitted to
COMMUNITY SATISFACTION, COMMUNITY ATTACHMENT, & RURAL DEVELOPMENT
 
PROJECT DIRECTOR: Theodori, G. L.
 
PERFORMING ORGANIZATION
RECREATION, PARKS & TOURISM
TEXAS A&M UNIV
COLLEGE STATION,TX 77843
 
NON TECHNICAL SUMMARY: This study will address two major weaknesses in the community satisfaction and attachment literature. These shortcomings include: (1) the lack of conceptual clarity with respect to the terms community satisfaction and attachment; and (2) the paucity of research that has empirically examined the link between community satisfaction and/or attachment and individual- and community-level issues. The objectives of this proposed research are as follows: (1) to provide an increased understanding of the analytical distinctiveness between the concepts of community satisfaction and attachment; (2) to empirically examine the effects of community satisfaction and attachment on individual well-being; (3) to empirically examine the effects of community satisfaction and attachment on community agency; and (4) to use the results to develop and test a refined model that will aid in designing new approaches to rural development. Data will be collected in two rural communities in Texas using key informant interviews, focus groups, and a general population household survey. The findings of this study will be used to develop future case-study and comparative-community research designs that will explicitly address questions about how community satisfaction and attachment contribute to individual well-being and community agency, and, in turn, to community development. The purpose of this study is to determine if efforts aimed at increasing sentiments toward and satisfaction with one's community could promote individual well-being and community agency and, in turn, development of community.
 
OBJECTIVES: (1) To provide an increased understanding of the analytical distinctiveness between the concepts of community satisfaction and community attachment. (2) To empirically examine the effects of community satisfaction and community attachment on individual well-being. (3) To empirically examine the effects of community satisfaction and community attachment on community agency. (4) To use the results to develop and test a refined model that will aid in designing new approaches to rural development.
 
APPROACH: As a first step, the proposed study requires the selection of case study sites. The purposive selection of study sites will be made using county- and community-level data available from the U.S. Bureau of the Census and the Texas Agricultural Extension Service. Two rural communities will be selected that differ with respect to their recent history of community agency. In one site, community agency will have been high during the recent past (the past 5 to 7 years). In the other site, community agency will have been low. Once the two study sites are selected, key informants will be surveyed. An initial key informant in each site will be identified by making a telephone call to the chief city officer. The initial contact will be asked if he/she would be willing to serve as a key informant for that particular place and complete a survey dealing with some general community issues. Regardless if that person agrees, he/she will be asked to give the names of additional individuals whom he/she considers leaders or persons knowledgeable about the community and/or the local issues. This process will be continued until 15 informants in each site are identified. The key and action informant interviews will be tape-recorded and transcribed verbatim in order to ensure accuracy of information. Next, focus groups will be conducted in each study site. A minimum of two focus groups with 7 to 12 participants in each will be conducted in both study sites. Potential participants will be randomly selected from local telephone directories. Individuals will be contacted via telephone 10 to 14 days in advance and asked if they would be willing to participate in an informal meeting with other area residents to discuss issues related to their community. Potential participants will be over-recruited by 20 to 25% to allow for 'no shows.' A personalized letter of invitation will be mailed to each potential participant one week before the scheduled session. In addition, each potential participant will be contacted by telephone the day before the scheduled meeting to remind them of the date and time. Each individual who participates in the focus groups will be financially compensated with $20. Like the key and action informant interviews, the focus groups will be tape-recorded and transcribed verbatim to ensure accuracy of information and both qualitative and quantitative techniques will be used to analyze the data. Lastly, a standard mail survey using the Total Design Method will be administered to a simple random probability sample of the general population (approximately 400 adults respondents per site). The survey instrument will ask about the individual's past, current, and future-perceived levels of local community satisfaction, attachment, individual well-being, and community involvement, along with other relevant individual- and community-level variables. General linear statistical models for multiple regression, analysis of variance, and analysis of covariance will be used as primary data analysis techniques. A general linear model is a useful technique for determining the combined and net effects of one or more independent variables on a dependent variable.
 
CRIS NUMBER: 0185869 SUBFILE: CRIS
PROJECT NUMBER: TEX08785 SPONSOR AGENCY: CSREES
PROJECT TYPE: NRI COMPETITIVE GRANT PROJECT STATUS: TERMINATED MULTI-STATE PROJECT NUMBER: (N/A)
START DATE: Sep 1, 2000 TERMINATION DATE: Aug 31, 2004

GRANT PROGRAM: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
GRANT PROGRAM AREA: Trade & Policy

CLASSIFICATION
Knowledge Area (KA)Subject (S)Science (F)Objective (G)Percent
803609930803.1100%

CLASSIFICATION HEADINGS
KA803 - Sociological and Technological Change Affecting Individuals, Families, and Communities
S6099 - People and communities, general/other
F3080 - Sociology
G3.1 - Economic Opportunities for Growth


RESEARCH EFFORT CATEGORIES
BASIC 60%
APPLIED 10%
DEVELOPMENTAL 30%

KEYWORDS: rural communities; well being; rural development; community development; community involvement; satisfaction; sociology; social change; statistical models; performance testing; case study; leadership; surveys; community leaders; interviews; quantitative analysis; data analysis; variance; covariance; multiple regression; variables

PROGRESS: Sep 1, 2000 TO Aug 31, 2004
Key findings are as follows. First, the results from the Pearson's bivariate correlation analyses associated with Objective 1 suggest that community attachment and community satisfaction are two related but separate concepts. Previous researchers who have used the two concepts interchangeably without providing any theoretical justification have added obscurity to a literature beset with confusion. Furthermore, as shown in the OLS regression analyses, different indicator variables were associated with community attachment and community satisfaction in the two study sites, and, more importantly, failure to check for statistical interactions in the OLS regression analyses would have led to somewhat misleading conclusions about the effects of the indicator variables on the measures of community attachment and community satisfaction. In short, the way in which certain variables relate to community attachment and/or community satisfaction differed depending upon the level or value of other variables in the model. Second, the results from the analyses associated with Objective 2 indicate that there was considerable support at both the bivariate and multivariate levels for the proposition that community attachment and community satisfaction are associated with individual well-being. Individuals who were more strongly attached and more highly satisfied with their community were more likely than their counterparts to exhibit higher levels of optimistic attitude and happiness. Third, the results from the analyses associated with Objective 3 indicate that while it appears that community satisfaction does not affect community action, these data indicate that community attachment is more or less positively associated with action at the community level. Only in Sanderson did the community attachment measure of social bonds fail to reach statistical significance. As shown by this study, higher levels of attachment to one's community results in increased levels of community action. Several researchers have noted that action at the local level is a critical resource for successful community development. Thus, based upon the conclusions of this investigation, knowledge about individuals' levels of attachment and the potential effects on community-level action is undoubtedly important when it comes to designing and implementing robust community development activities. Researchers, community developers, public leaders, Cooperative Extension personnel, and other practitioners working in the area of community development should identify and include in local development initiatives those residents who express strong attachments to their community. Lastly, this report ends by providing a conceptual foundation for an operational definition of community development. Time and again, community development has been prescribed as a popular means of improving the social, economic, and environmental quality of life for residents of a community. As encouraging as the notion of community development sounds, the practice of community development suffers from a lack of systematic theory and a clear understanding of what the community is and how it develops.

IMPACT: 2000-09-01 TO 2004-08-31 The data gathered in this study are providing an increased understanding of the analytical distinctiveness between the concepts of community satisfaction and community attachment. Moreover, these data are also providing insights into the effects of community satisfaction and attachment on individual well-being and community agency. Lastly, the results of this study are being used to develop and test a refined model that will aid in designing new approaches to rural development.

PUBLICATION INFORMATION: 2000-09-01 TO 2004-08-31
Theodori, G.L. Forthcoming (2005). Community Attachment, Satisfaction, and Action. Accepted for publication in Journal of the Community Development Society.

PROJECT CONTACT INFORMATION
NAME: Theodori, G. L.
PHONE: 979-862-8561
FAX: 979-847-8744