The ideal and the actual community: Evaluations from small-town residents

It is necessary to have some idea of what is wanted by local residents in order to plan community programs. But what residents consider to be ideal levels of factors operating in their localities are seldom explored. especially in relation to actual states. Data on both ideal and actual social diemnsions are reported from a mail questinnaire styd of more than 4,600 residents of 27 small lowa communities. the ideal and actual states differ significantly on most individual ites. and on total scores. Selected sociodemographic measures (community size, age of respondent, likelihood of residing in the community in 5 years) account for relatively little of the variance in the ideal and actual scores or for differences between them. Community evaluations (local opportunities and services, attachment, quality of life) are more effective predictors. A call for the inclusion of public values and evaluations in determining, planning, and carrying out development projects concludes the article.