ABSTRACT

If community studies are to be undertaken they must be justified as one would justify any piece of sociological research, i.e. they must make it possible either (i) to test already existing propositions or (ii) to explore for hypotheses within a given conceptual framework. In particular one must expect of such studies that they should provide data in answer to questions about how particular aspects of society work, which may be drawn together to develop an understanding of the larger 'how' of social systems in general. Such can also provide the data upon which those theoreticians who wish to answer the question' why society?' can develop their ideas. No distinction is here made between so-called 'pure' and 'applied' research, for whether the immediate object is to solve a practical problem or an academic one, the canons of sociological research are the same.