The Psychological Researcher in a Rural Setting: Problems and Limitations.

The frustrations of researchers confronted with uncooperative personnel, subjects who leave town, carefully planned controls which collapse, ets. are mentioned. Specifically, the paper is concerned with problems which the author and his colleagues encountered while providing psychological services to rural schools. They included: (1) achieving and maintaining good public relations; (2) the resistance to research activity frequently found in rural areas; (3) distance and consequent need for careful organization and sequencing of events; and (4) problems of data analysis. The use of subjects in rural areas is discussed. The second part of the paper describes the author's research which was concentrated in two areas: (1) the development of a behavior rating scale for identification of problems and assessment of changes; and (2) the comparison of behavior modification peer group counseling and family counseling in the treatment of aggressive elementary school children. The procedure is explained and data presented. Limitations of the research prevented the drawing of any firm conclusions. Difficulties peculiar to the rural setting are viewed as partly responsible for the research's shortcomings. (TL)