Rural Sociology

Aims & Scope

A forum for cutting-edge research, Rural Sociology explores sociological and interdisciplinary approaches to emerging social issues and new approaches to recurring social issues affecting rural people and places.

The journal is particularly interested in advancing sociological theory and welcomes the use of a wide range of social science methodologies.

Manuscripts that use a sociological perspective to address the effects of local and global systems on rural people and places, rural community revitalization, rural demographic changes, rural poverty, natural resource allocations, the environment, food and agricultural systems, and related topics from all regions of the world are welcome.

Rural Sociology also accepts papers that significantly advance the measurement of key sociological concepts or provide well-documented critical analysis of one or more theories as these measures and analyses are related to rural sociology.

View Aims & Scope

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Metrics & Ranking

Impact Factor

Year	Value
2025	1.9
2024	2.30

SJR (SCImago Journal Rank)

Year	Value
2024	0.721

Quartile

Year	Value
2024	Q1

h-index

Year	Value
2024	82

Journal Rank

Year	Value
2024	7814

Journal Citation Indicator

Year	Value
2024	372

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Abstracting & Indexing

Journal is indexed in leading academic databases, ensuring global visibility and accessibility of our peer-reviewed research.

• Scopus
• Google Scholar
• Web of Science

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Subjects & Keywords

Journal’s research areas, covering key disciplines and specialized sub-topics in Social Sciences, designed to support cutting-edge academic discovery.

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Most Cited Articles

The Most Cited Articles section features the journal's most impactful research, based on citation counts. These articles have been referenced frequently by other researchers, indicating their significant contribution to their respective fields.

• A Theory of Access*

  Citation: 1589

  Authors: Jesse C., Nancy Lee

• Landscapes: The Social Construction of Nature and the Environment

  Citation: 650

  Authors: Thomas, Lorraine

• The Social Bases of Environmental Concern: Have They Changed Over Time?¹

  Citation: 471

  Authors: Robert Emmet, Riley E.

• Support for Climate Change Policy: Social Psychological and Social Structural Influences*

  Citation: 466

  Authors: Thomas, Amy, Rachael

• Community Economic Identity: The Coal Industry and Ideology Construction in West Virginia

  Citation: 332

  Authors: Shannon Elizabeth, Richard

• Addictive Economies: Extractive Industries and Vulnerable Localities in a Changing World Economy¹

  Citation: 294

  Authors: William R.

• Social Theory and the De/Reconstruction of Agricultural Science: Local Knowledge for an Alternative Agriculture¹

  Citation: 292

  Authors: Jack

• Rural Depopulation: Growth and Decline Processes over the Past Century

  Citation: 291

  Authors: Kenneth M., Daniel T.

• New! Improved? The Transformation of the Global Agrifood System*

  Citation: 272

  Authors: Lawrence, Carmen

• Conventional versus Alternative Agriculture: The Paradigmatic Roots of the Debate*

  Citation: 256

  Authors: Curtis E., Riley E.

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