Perception of the Natural Gas Industry and Engagement in Individual Civic Actions

Data collected in a general population survey from a random sample of individuals in Tarrant County, Texas, were used to empirically examine issues associated with public perception of the natural gas industry. Further, the associations of public perception of the energy industry with individual actions that (a) may or may not have been taken and/or (b) may or may not be taken in response to the exploration and production of natural gas were investigated. Echoing findings from research in two neighboring Barnett Shale counties (Theodori 2009), members of the public in Tarrant County appear to dislike certain potentially problematic social and/or environmental issues perceived to accompany natural gas development. Conversely, these same Tarrant County residents view less negatively the economic and/or service-related benefits that often result from such development. Moreover, the results of this study suggest that the social/environmental perceptual variable is a key factor in explaining past behaviors and predicting future behaviors taken in response to the exploration and production of natural gas. Possible implications of these findings are proposed

2009 SRSA Presidential Address: Modification and Adaptation in Rural Sociology: Part I

The 2009 Southern Rural Sociological Association Presidential Addres

Perceptions of Community and Place and the Migration Intentions of At-Risk Youth in Rural Areas

Population decline in rural areas is often attributed to the outmigration of young people, particularly those with high educational and occupational aspirations. This study investigates the perceptions of community and place and the migration intentions of rural at-risk youth, an often-overlooked population in community development efforts. Thematic analysis of more than 60 photoliteracy projects and 23 interviews with young people identified as low-income and at-risk resulted in the identification of two major themes: the rural context and migration intentions. Findings support that limited educational and occupational opportunities contribute to participants’ intentions to migrate away from their home communities after high-school graduation. However, strong community attachments were key influences for participants who indicated a desire to remain in or return to their hometowns. Recommendations for community leaders and teachers to build upon youths’ community attachments to stem rural out-migration and motivate at-risk students are discussed

The Community Activeness--Consciousness Matrix

The article presents one generalization about rural communities and then describes a tool that Extension faculty might find useful when delivering community development-related programs. This tool, the activeness--consciousness matrix, can provide Extension personnel with a speedy assessment of the levels of activeness and consciousness of a community as viewed from the local citizens\u27 perspective

Introduction: Special Issue on Social Issues Associated with Unconventional Natural Gas Development

introduction to the special issu

Campus Cowboys and Cowgirls: A Research Note on College Rodeo Athletes

College rodeo has evolved from small, single-campus fund-raisers, celebrations, and/or competitions into an internationally recognized North American collegiate sport. Throughout its history, though, the sport has received virtually no attention in the sociological literature. In this research note I provide a descriptive summary of member characteristics and selected findings from a 2003-2004 National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association membership survey. I also empirically examine the association of size of place of residency during childhood with previous involvement in rodeo (i.e., before participating in college rodeo). Findings reveal that respondents who spent most of their childhood in more rural areas (i.e., in the countryside outside any city or town) have participated in rodeo (or rodeo-related events), on average, for more years than those who primarily resided in more urban locales (i.e., a city of 50,000 or more) during childhood

Exploring the Association Between Length of Residence and Community Attachment: A Research Note

Empirical examinations of the systemic model of community attachment have emphasized the relative importance of certain sociodemographic factors. Among them, length of residence generally has been viewed as the key variable influencing attachment to one\u27s community. Despite the vast number of articles documenting the main effects of length of residence on community attachment, no published papers investigating the interactions between length of residence and additional important systemic-model and/or community-level predictors were uncovered in the literature. Using data collected in a general population survey from a random sample of individuals in two rural communities in Texas, I explore the main effects of length of residence and the interactive effects between length of residence and age, gender, education, income, and community of residence on community attachment. Findings indicate that the way length of residence relates to certain measures of community attachment depends upon the age of an individual. Possible implications of the findings are advanced, as are suggestions for future research

Paradoxical Perceptions of Problems Associated with Unconventional Natural Gas Development

Data collected in a general population survey from a random sample of individuals in two counties located in the Barnett Shale region of Texas were used to empirically explore potentially problematic issues associated with unconventional natural gas development. Moderate support was found for the hypothesis that individuals residing in places with diverse levels of energy development exhibit dissimilar perceptions of potentially problematic issues. The results indicate residents of the county where the natural gas industry was more mature (Wise County) were significantly more likely than residents of the county where the natural gas industry was less established (Johnson County) to view one social and/or environmental issue more negatively and five economic and/or service-related issues more positively. Johnson County residents, however, were more likely than their Wise County counterparts to view two social and/or environmental issues as getting worse. These findings may prove beneficial to community leaders, government and regulatory agencies, environmental organizations, and other stakeholders, as well as the oil and gas industry in decision-making processes. The results may also serve as a foundation around which to design future studies to assess the objective social and environmental effects of unconventional energy development

Attendance at Religious Meetings and Community Involvement

Data collected in a general population survey from a random sample of individuals in two rural communities in Texas were used to examine the association between religious involvement and civic participation empirically. Support was found for the hypothesis that attendance at religious meetings is positively associated with community involvement. Results of the analysis of covariance also suggest that certain sociodemographic factors are significant predictors of community involvement. Possible implications of these findings for community developers, public leaders, Cooperative Extension Service personnel, and other practitioners are addressed. Recommendations for involving religious institutions in community development initiatives are also advanced

Editors\u27 Preface

introduction to Journal of Rural Social Sciences by new editorial tea