Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 2.djvu/868

 A PROGRAMME FOR SOCIAL STUDY.

THE present widespread discontent in regard to social condi- tions, the dawning recognition that not anybody in particular but everybody in general is to blame for them, and the growing belief that better conditions may be realized if we set about it intelligently, make the study of the actual facts of society one of the chief demands of the times. I say the actual facts of soci- ety, for the investigation by the people themselves of actual local social conditions, and 1 the development of local civic pride, will do more toward bettering social conditions than the considera- tion by isolated students of theoretical social ideas. Theoretical study should not be discouraged, of course, but the formation in a few cities of study clubs to pursue local social investigations marks the beginning of a movement which also deserves the encouragement of everyone interested in social reform. With the hope of stimulating this movement by encouraging the for- mation and by facilitating the work of such clubs, I desire to present a few suggestions in regard to a method of social study, and to follow those suggestions with a working programme which, with slight modifications, may serve for a club in any locality. My suggestions are addressed mainly to those who have had no special training in sociology. 1

In beginning the investigation of any class of phenomena or" conditions, physical or social, the first thing one stands in need of is a method of study. Without method all study is likely to be fruitless, or, to say the least, fragmentary. The student without a definite method will only lose himself in a wilderness of particu- lars. In all scientific study it is necessary to arrange and clas- sify the material collected and thus avoid confusion. To the

1 The suggestions offered are practically adapted from SMALL and VINCENT'S Intro- duction to the Study of Society \ No originality except in the manner of presentation is claimed by the writer.

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