Brown, Raplh B. (author), Hassinger, Edward W. (author), O'Brien, David J. (author), Pinkerton, James R. (author), and Department of Rural Sociology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
1991
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 90 Document Number: C06475
James F. Evans Collection, The relationship between the social networks of leaders and community viability is examined in a comparative study of leaders (N=75) in five rural communities (population range 1,000 to 2,500). The analysis looks at leaders' connections to organizations outside of their communities and at different kinds of linkages between leaders within their respective communities. Leaders in more and less viable communities do not differ much in characteristics such as age, education, and occupations, but the presence of women in leadership position is associated with community viability. In addition, there is some support for the expectation that leaders in more viable communities are more likely to have formal linkages to statewide and national networks. The most important finding, however, is that the way in which leaders relate to each other in instrumental tasks within their respective communities is associated with community viability. (original)
