Citation

Hoffer CR. Am. J. Sociol. 1931; 36(4): 616-624.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1931, University of Chicago Press)

DOI

10.1086/215480

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Definitions of "community" in sociological literature are varied but, in general, show three ideas essential to the concept, namely, first, the community is a human group; second, the people in it have common activities and experiences; and, third, it occupies a definite territorial area. Characteristics of communities are varied because communities are the net result of many forces-geographical, cultural, political, and others. An understanding of a community involves (1) a knowledge of the necessary number of people for any given type of community activity, (2) the changes affecting the stability of the community, (3) what cultural interests the people have and (4) the interrelation of the various community activities. Research work pertaining to the community may logically be made to furnish such information. Classifications are an aid to understanding communities provided they are based on real characteristics which communities have. Definitions of neighborhood and community indicate that the neighborhood is a group which has only face-to-face contacts, whereas both face-to-face and indirect contacts may be involved in a community.