DEFINITIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS OF RURAL SOCIOLOGY.

Rural sociology is a subdiscipline of sociology that is becoming more theoretical while the parent discipline is becoming more applied. Its development as a discipline depends on general agreement of the members of the field on a common approach to its science and practice. While search continues for a scientific conceptualization of "rural," rural sociology is now developing a greater unity of approach. Relationships between theory and practice of rural sociology are becoming clearer with the realization that "rural" designates one of the arenas in which sociology is developed and applied. Rural sociologists recognize a need to work with scientists in other discipline toward the solution of major problems and toward the unification of science.