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Conceptualizing community intervention: an empirical test of "three models" of community organization
Abstract
A sample of 105 community organization practitioners in Israel participated in a study that examined their perceptions of and activities surrounding their work. The study sought to obtain empirical evidence concerning Rothman's conceptual formulation of three models of community organization practice. Questionnaire data revealed that the subjects' responses related to factors that fundamentally are consistent with Rothman's conceptualization. These factors were (1) locality development, which relies on broad, consensual citizen participation, (2) social planning, which entails rational, factually supported decision making, and (3) social action, which uses conflict and mass mobilization of low-power individuals to bring about institutional change. The practitioners did not or were not able to perform roles to the extent they indicated it was appropriate to do so. This disparity was particularly sharp in social planning, in which they indicated much lower performance than perception of appropriate role responsibilities. Roles in the area of locality development were both perceived and performed at a high level; those in social action were both perceived and performed at a low level. The gap between perception and performance of role responsibilities was largest in the area of social planning.
Journal
(1986)
vol10
no3
pages41-55
Categories
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Community Development Nonprofits
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Community Development
