A Retrospective on theJournal of the Community Development Society: Authors and Methods

Abstract

Although the editorial policy has remained constant over the years, the nature of the articles published in the Journal of the Community Development Society has changed. This article analyzes the first twenty volumes (373 articles) of the Journal on three dimensions: authors' background, geographic area of focus, and methods of data collection and analysis. Results indicate that the disciplinary backgrounds of authors has narrowed to two dominant fields: sociology and economics. The local community (i.e., towns, cities, and neighborhoods) has remained the geographic focus. Although there has been an increase in articles based on information from communities in the South and the West, articles from the Midwest were still predominant. Articles emphasizing rural areas have increased over time, while the proportion of urban-based articles has not changed. Finally, the Journal has become more empirical and an increasing proportion of articles rely on survey data and multivariate statistical techniques.

From the Map to the Territory: An Exploration of Community Workers' World Views

“…In examining the research literature of community development, little can be found that seeks to examine the attitudes, values or work habits of community workers (Donnemeyer & Passewitz, 1991). Yet in any community development activity the worker is a central and indeed critical figure in the process, one who has a great deal to do with the success or failure of the project but whose real significance may often be lost on both community participants and on the 188 Journal of the Community Development Society community workers' employers, as well as on funding agencies and other stake-holders in a community project.…”