The Negro's church,.

Appendix

297

with the specific features of the church as an organization.
Questionnaires were prepared to query white ministers as
to the attitude of their churches toward Negro churches,
Negro college students, professional and business people on
their attitude toward the church, and college deans and presidents concerning the religious services and practices of their
schools.
With the exception of the questionnaires, which were mailed
to the prospective respondents, all data were gathered directly
through interviews, observations, checking of records and reports, stenographic reports, and by actual counts, by the directors of the study.
Following the preparation of the plans and instruments,
the investigators made a trial study, using the church schedules especially, in Atlanta and Peach County, Georgia. The
data collected were written up to test their usefulness. The
criticisms, corrections, and suggestions brought out by this
trial study were helpful in completing the plans and instruments of the study.
This trial study indicated that about four weeks would be
required for the inquiry in each locality. The directors divided the territory between themselves, and each studied a
share of the cities and rural areas. By maintaining a close
contact through mail and frequent conferences, they were
able to keep each other informed concerning discoveries and
helpful ideas, and to maintain an alertness and interest for
valuable features.
Validation of the data received was achieved in a variety of
ways. The actual records of churches, juvenile delinquents,
church federations, training of ministers, rural schools, county
tax offices and church histories, wherever these were available, were studied. United States Census data on population,
number and membership of religious bodies, and the economic
status of rural Negroes were used.