ELEMENTS FOR A OF RURAL RESEARCH METHODOLOGY.SOCIOLOGICAL MONOGRAPHS AND THE RURAL SOCIOLOGICAL ATLAS (English version)

This article attempts to provide an “X-ray image” of rural life through the inventory of certain research methods and techniques used in the study of Romanian rural communities. Sociological monographs, including the sociological rural atlas, were the epitome of Gustian sociology. The investigation of rural life focusing on certain key aspects – economic, political, and religious – simultaneously, can provide a more comprehensive perspective on the Romanian village than would be possible by considering each of these elements on its own. Hence, the monograph brings unity to past and present realities. The dynamic character of sociology, on which the Sociological School of Bucharest focused, can be applied nowada ys as well. The sociologist is called forth now more than ever in order to inte rfere with social life. In this case, the methodological tool, that is the monograph, is very useful. Through the Social Atlas, the problems of rural communities can be anticipated and diagnosed and, as such, certain serious problems which take place in a social dimension can be averted. Hence, the Social Atlas project is very useful for research on rural life, as the maps capture the progress of social change.