The scope or Rural Sociology refers to what it studies. It studies society from the rural
standpoint. But its main aim is concentrated on rural lives. The scope of Rural Sociology may be clear from the analysis of the following subjects.
(1) Rural Society:
Rural Sociology, basically studies Rural society, its nature and basic ingredients from the
structural and functional standpoints. Its main aim is to study of rural social life. Rural social life covers the behavior patterns, web of relationship, social interactions, standard of living and socio-economic conditions of the rural people. The scope of Rural Sociology, therefore, expands where the boundary of Rural Society is expanded.
(2) Rural Population:
Rural population is the basic essence of Rural Sociology. It studies the nature, characteristics, size, density and distribution of rural population from different angles. Rural Sociology aims at the study of the factors of growth of population, its evil effects of Rural Society, rural –urban migration for the greater interest of the country at large.
(3) Rural Community:
Rural community is the oldest organisation of mankind. Rural Sociology, therefore, is mainly
concerned with the divine origin, nature characteristics, social attributes and human ecology of rural community. It also studies the homogenous rigid and conservative nature of hither to
existing customs, traditions, folkways, mores, norms, values and so on in rural community.
(4) Rural Social Organisation:
Social organisation is the most fundamental basis of every society as well as social life. The most important function of Rural Sociology, therefore, is to provide basic knowledge about rural social organisation. Rural Social organisation covers the spiritual lives, religious activities sacred relationship and divine notion of rebirth, etc.Of rural folk which deeply affect the entire rural social life. Rural sociology, thus, for the betterment of rural life, studies the future prospectus of rural social organisation and governing laws for its development.
(5) Rural Social Institution:
Rural social institutions as we mean, is recognised forms of procedure governing the relations
between the rural people. Rural sociology, thus, studies the structure, characteristics and
functions of rural social institutions. Rural social institutions include family, marriage, kinship, religion, caste and Rural Sociology studies the sociological importance of these institutions in the rural context.
(6) Rural Economy:
Rural economy is basically known as agricultural economy. Agriculture is the backbone of rural
economic life. Rural people directly depend on agriculture for their livelihood. Rural Sociology therefore studies the factors responsible for the failure of agriculture and suggests various measures for the improvement of agriculture in rural areas.
Besides, the adoption of new agricultural technology among the farming centers, modernisation
of old farming methods, creation of open markets and providing agricultural training to the
farmers are the important areas of the study or Rural Society.
(7) Rural social Process:
Rural Sociology mainly studies the two process of rural social interaction, namely, conjunctive
and disjunctive. Rural conjunctive process includes co-operation, accommodation and
assimilation. Rural disjunctive process, on the other hand, includes competition and conflict.
Thus, the nature, characteristics and social importance of these processes are to be properly
studied by the scope of Rural Sociology.
(8) Rural Religion:
Rural Society is basically a religion oriented society. Religion is the soul of rural people and it is regarded as the chief essence of rural life. Religion, therefore, plays a vital role in Rural Society.
Rural Sociology, in this context, and studies the concept and social importance of rural religion and its impact on Rural Society.
(9) Rural Culture:
Culture, as we mean, is that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, moral law, art,
custom and any other capabilities acquired by man as a member of society. Rural culture is
strictly based on rigid and conservative dogmas and it is very static in nature. It includes old customs, tradition, folkways, mores, norms, values and so on. Rural Sociology studies the
complexities of rural culture, its different structural organisations, cultural patterns, cultural traits and cultural lag in the rural contexts.
(10) Rural Social Problems:
Rural Society is a hell of social evils. It is basically called a hot bed of rural social problems. Its major problems are poverty, unemployment, population growth, illiteracy, casteism, untouchability and so on. Rural Sociology, therefore, studies the causes and evil effects of these problems and also suggests measures for their eradication for the greater interests of the country
at large.
(11) Rural Social Control:
Social control as we mean, is the control of society over individual. In Rural Society, social
control is in formal and rigid in nature. Rural Sociology significantly studies the informal means and agencies such as religions, customs, folkways, mores, norms etc, of social control. In Rural Society, the important primary groups like family and neighborhood play a vital role in social control.
(12) Rural Social Change:
Social change is meant only such alterations as occur in social organisation, that is, structure and functions of society, Rural Society, now-a-days, is on the way of social change. Due to the impact of money modernising forces, Rural Society is undergoing tremendous changes in the twentieth century. For a better account of the speed of social change in Rural Society, Rural Sociology undertakes necessary steps. Rural Sociology also studies the various factors
responsible for social changes in a systematic way.
(13) Rural Urban Contrast:
The study of Rural Society shall not be completed unless the study of rural urban contrast is done in a proper and scientific manner. Both village and city, hypothetically, are the two contrasting modes of community life. Rural Sociology studies the rural-urban contrast on the basis of social, economic, religious and cultural point of view. Besides, Rural Sociology also draws attention on the comparative study of these two societies. As a result, the concept of Rural Society and social institutions can be clear by this contrasting analysis.
(14) Rural Planning and Reconstruction:
Rural planning and reconstruction are very much essential for under developed societies. In this context, the poor and backward condition o f some Rural Society needs rural planning and
reconstruction in a systematic and planned manner. Rural Society is full of social problems. For the eradication of these problems and for the betterment of rural life, the proper planning and reconstruction should be made by the Government. A.R. Desai says, Rural Sociology studies all these subjects and provides proper guidelines in this direction.
Titany answered the question on October 25, 2021 at 07:31