THE FORMALIZATION PROCESS IN VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATIONS.

The article focuses on a study, which was undertaken with the purpose of testing the hypothesis of a cumulative process of formalization in voluntary associations in the Minneapolis and St. Paul metropolitan area in 1952. No attempt was made to define the concept of "formalization" in precise terms. This study of voluntary associations consisted of a survey of 91 organizations. A random sample was drawn from a list of 456 voluntary associations compiled by the Minnesota Council for Adult Education. This list was used because it seemed to be the most inclusive enumeration of existing voluntary associations in the Twin City area. The random sample consisted of 119 associations, 84 of which responded to the request for an interview. Another random sample of seven organizations was drawn from a list of 79 voluntary associations compiled by the Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce. The reason for the second sample was primarily due to the desire to increase the number of service clubs represented in the first sample.