Describes data derived from a 1979 national evaluation of the Community Resource Development programs of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Extension Service. A reanalysis of the data results in a general model of community development. (NRJ)

Content analysis of journal articles revealed that most authors agree that community decisions should be informed, democratic, and just. Authors disagree, however, about whether community development practitioners should act as advocates. The author provides a guide for making ethical choices concerning advocacy. (Author/CH)

The centrality of the definition of need as the major determinant of both substance and strategy in the conduct of needs assessment in a community is highlighted. A definition of need is proposed as a working definition for needs assessment undertakings, and consequently as a foundation for social practice. (Author)

Describes a project that studied seven successful community development projects in order to find basic patterns in leadership, community organization, and action processes. Process patterns were found in several areas, and an awareness of these will be useful to community leaders and developers. (NRJ)

Focuses on the issue of selecting the unit of analysis when employing secondary data in rural community studies and provides an empirical demonstration of the influence of selecting one unit of analysis over another. (JOW)

Groupware was used to survey rural development practitioners and policymakers about professional relationships, skills, and expertise. The software created an inventory of the social and knowledge capital of this community of interest but was not enough to sustain ongoing, active participation. (Contains 42 references.) (SK)

The authors discuss a consumer opinion survey that analyzes local service and retail business activity. The survey identifies where consumers shop and why. Findings provide community development practitioners with information to develop educational programs involving local business management. (Author/CH)

Deadwood, South Dakota, and Central City, Black Hawk, and Cripple Creek, Colorado, legalized gambling; in South Dakota, most earnings are earmarked for historic preservation, but in Colorado, they go into the general fund. Success in job creation, investment, and tourism has been accompanied by increased social problems. (SK)

Coastal communities face difficult choices regarding the use if their waterfront resources. The complexity of issues, contradictory scientific evidence, different visions of the future, and uncertainty regarding community interests add to the difficulty of reaching consensus. The community of Oconto, Wisconsin, attempted to integrate technical and…

Needs assessments in eight rural Illinois counties were used to analyze the extent to which male and female respondents differed in their willingness to support community services. Tests of significance showed virtually no differences between men and women in terms of the types of services they were willing to support. (Author/JOW)

In the strategic planning process used by citizens in McPherson County, Kansas, discussions were dominated by the view of community as a county-wide issue. (JOW)

Examines an ongoing community development project in a primarily African-American county in Georgia. Identifies characteristics of the local development effort and compares them to the elements in the black organizational autonomy model of community development. (Author/JOW)

Discusses factors affecting attitudes of community leaders and residents toward community change. Leaders' and residents' attitudes are compared. Presents strategies for more effective local action relevant to community development practitioners. (JOW)

A survey of all known Ohio maple syrup producers indicated that economic self-interest is an important factor explaining the levels of participation in the statewide association. Although maple syrup is an important source of income for many Amish, none was involved in the association. (JOW)

Data from Oregon communities, 1949-1989, show dramatic changes in income between urban centers and rural communities at the periphery. Coping strategies for rural areas include cartels, self-sufficiency, community sustainability, harmonized interests with urban cores, and changing community identity. (Author/SK)