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Popular Images of “Rurality”: Data from a Pennsylvania Survey
Author(s) -
Willits Fern K.,
Bealer Robert C.,
Timbers Vincent L.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
rural sociology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.083
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1549-0831
pISSN - 0036-0112
DOI - 10.1111/j.1549-0831.1990.tb00697.x
Subject(s) - rurality , wilderness , geography , census , socioeconomics , telephone survey , survey data collection , rural area , sociology , psychology , demography , medicine , population , advertising , business , biology , ecology , statistics , mathematics , pathology
Abstract The meaning of rurality from the person‐on‐the‐street perspective was explored using data from a statewide telephone and mail survey of 1,241 Pennsylvania residents. Responses to 35 Likert items were factor analyzed and five factors were delineated: positive images of rural life, negative images of rurality, antiurbanism, agrarianism, and wilderness values. Widespread agreement with the positive images of rural life, antiurbanism, agrarianism, and wilderness values was found. Negative images of rurality were overwhelmingly rejected by the respondents. Rural dwellers were somewhat more positive in their attitudes toward all aspects of rurality than were urban or suburban residents. The relevance of these overall findings for rural development is suggested.