Perceptions of local social dimensions are hypothesized to be more efficient predictors of community satisfaction than are perceptions of services. To test this, a mail-questionnaire study of residents of small Iowa communities was conducted. Correlation and regression analyses suggested that social dimensions relate to three…

A random telephone survey of 25 residents in Iowa Falls, a small town in rural north-central Iowa, examined opinions and attitudes about the health of their community. The community has a population of 5,424, including 1,276 students in Grades K-12; is the largest city in the county; and is the site of a community college. Sixty percent of…

The product of a needs assessment (via 4,627 mailed questionnaires) in Iowa's rural Region V, this report exemplifies need assessment techniques designed to assist local residents, their leaders, area change agents, and regional groups in making community decisions for rural areas. The survey used to develop this databook requested information re:…