RESEARCH IN COMMUNITY LIFE.

The article presents a research in community life. The social survey has served its purpose in its day, but out of it have now grown more satisfactory means of measuring social-phenomena functioning within a community. The application of the scientific method to the study of the community has lifted our technique out of the realm of superficiality and uncertain approaches to more comprehensive and thorough studies. The sociological approach to the study of a community has great possibilities, though as yet, it is still in its infancy. The concepts of the sociological approach, as distinctive of all others, appear to be based upon synthetic objectives. This approach implies a study of the whole of society in a particular region rather than merely isolated detached parts. All the forces that can be located are studied from every related angle. A knowledge of the total situation is necessary before any phase of that social situation can be understood. Too often in community work attempts at social control arise from ignorant good will rather than from the facts of the situation. This approach utilizes the best in all other methods and focuses attention on the program at hand. It is concerned with origins, developments, structure and functions and social objectives rather than special disciplines which approach the study of the community with particular interests.