In the second phase of the RERC research programme, the perspective changes from one mainly concerned with ‘rural places’ to one mainly concerned with ‘rural networks’. The conceptual setting for this work lies in social network analysis, though at this early stage in its application to rural development and policy, use of the term consists of a set of approaches to and perceptions to research, rather than a strict methodological framework.
The aim in this phase is to add to Defra’s evidence base for rural policy from a perspective which focuses on the connections between people and places insofar as these can be measured or inferred from the data at our disposal. The setting, extent and nature of social networks in the rural domain influence many things, including the economic health of places, knowledge of and access to jobs, information on the state of markets and community participation.
The rationale for this approach and an indication of the sort of policy related research this entails is given in our Research Outlook paper dated 6 September 2005. This paper, with its research proposals, was discussed with the relevant researchers and policy makers within Defra and the following projects were identified as ‘Phase 2’ research.