Community analysis (March 1943)

March 1943

COMMUNITY ANALYSIS

Aims and Purposes

The basic aim of community analysis is embodied in

Socrates! edict, "Know thyself", Through an understanding

of the social and psychological developments within a re-

location center both WRA appointive staff and residents of

the center should gain a better understanding of themselves,

and of one another and of the problems of life under re-

location center conditions,

Specifically, if people on the project administrative

steff and in the Washington office better understand some of

the social: developments and corresponding attitudes within

the center, they will be in a better position to determine

the e6effects of new policies on center jife end will, furthers

more, be able to avoid mekine decisions which lesd to unhappy

rather than happy results,

The followine trief outline is given ss a guide to be

used by the communi ty enelysis unit on the project, In its

meen one form it is largely suggestive, and when the various

units get under way they will inevitably raise cuestions and

discover special problems not provided for in this outline,

It is intended that a more adecuate outline will be prepared

based on project experience,

Is Eoolorical Analysts

`

One of the first steps to be taken in starting a program

of social analysis is the preparation of an ecological survey.

There should be already available a base map of the center

showing the general physical layout which can be enlarged and

brought up to date to suit the analyst's needs,

a, On these base maps should be spotted family groups,

single ten, Issei, Nisei, Kibei, people from particular

assenbiy- centers, etc,, to discover if any significant ecolog--

{cel distributions have either accidently or deliberately

resulted and also to present an overell picture of the project,

Much of thie date is elready evatileble from family and employ

ment records,

b, Since the size of the project will prevent a system-

atic study of the entire community, certein blocks representing

a erosse-section of the community should be selected for inten-

sive lons term study, More detailed ecolozicsal mens for these

blocks can be prepared,

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(c)

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Ii. History of Evacuation

The early history of the evacuation and its effects on

the residents of the center is very important in understand-

ing present social developments and attitudes. Specific

information is needed on the manner in which evacuation was

cerried out in different areas, on conditions and experiences

in the assembly centers, and the early conditions prevailing

in the relocation center itself. Much of this information

can be obtained through personal interview and group discus*

sion,

ITT. Main Social Groups

A description end enelysis of the main sociel sroups

present is of major imrortence in interpreting contemporary

events in the center,

a, The family croup :

Emphesis here is on the effects evacuation may heve had

on the family orgesnization., Information es to the makeup of

family units, the functionins of the family as a total unit,

control of family heads, reletions between prerents and children

fall in this category,

b, Sex, age; and occupational rroups

Groups formed along sex, age, or occupational lines have

a. great importance in the functioning of any community. In

this regard information should be gathered to show just what

these groups are, how they are organized, their composition,

the position of each, and their interrelationships,

ec, Associations

The main' interest here is in the structure, functions, and

interrelationships of grouns of an asscciational nature, A

division can be mede into formal end informal types, the formal

types being those thet are orgenized with formal rules while

the informal tyres are ell those grours of an informal nature

such as clicues, reighborhood `rroups, recreational vrouns, etc,

Cuesttons to be ensvered sre elone lines of what sre' these

rrours! merberehin, ectivities, functions, etrueture, rnd effect

on nublic oninion,

IV, Main Formal Institytions

The more formel socitel iretitutions of the community

must also be carefully studied. Trese will be institutions

commonly rrouped under such herdings as the church system,

the school system, and polit'cel orgenization, Information

should be gathered as to what is the structure, organization,

functions, authority, and relations to the rest of the com-

munity of any such institutions. In the centers certain of

these formal social structures will be radically different

than under normal circumstances, The political organization

of the community will in effect be two separate institutions,

the YRA administration both local and national being distinct

from the evacuee political setup such es the community councils.

VV, Social Stratificaticn

This category refers to methods of subordination, formal

or informal, thet mey heve grovm up in the centers, fre there

recognized distirctions between evacuee ropulation end the

administret*on? Is this tecomines a ceste distinction? Are

there eny different sociel or cultrvrel treditions of the evae

cuee populstior which meke "or distinction within this group?

Are these for instence slong lines of rrevious residence or

besed on reneretion differences?

VI. Individuel Personality Development :

A very important problem is the effect that evecuetion

hes had on the personality development of the individual.,.: To

determine how personality development hes been influenced,

study should be made of such thines as increased sgrressive

behavior, docility, anti-social behavior, crime, and delincuency

GENFRAL REMARKS

While different members of the social analysis unit:

may be working on different aspects of relocation society,

they may also be subject from time to time to''requests for

information or help from the project director, the community

eouncil, or the social analysis section in Washington,

Special local develonments mey also interfere with the

orderly research outlined ebove, There should be no hesitation

in civine first priority to such special protlems,