ABSTRACT
Advancements in survey methodology make it possible to conduct targeted surveys that are responsive to the problems. However, it is extremely difficult to modify federal surveys, the traditional source of policy relevant data on rural needs, so that timely, targeted surveys can be accomplished. The Bureau of the Census, Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Center for Health Statistics, National Center for Educational Statistics, and National Agricultural Statistics Service are among the organizations devoted to collecting and analyzing data that are relevant to rural areas of the United States. The emerging data needs of rural America are quite different than those which the nation's federal data system is capable of providing. Federal agencies have considerable inertia, well protected by interest groups, that may prevent discontinuing the collection of data on some topics so that the resources can be devoted to other topics.
