Efforts related to rural development, observed in central Africa, focus on the physical with little concern for social and psychological change. Highly funded programs, including those sponsored by the United States, are providing roads, markets, schools, public buildings, etc., and the lifestyles of the native population reflect these improvements. Often the social impact is negative and development suffers. Irregularities in emphasis produces the greatest single development restraint. A more balanced approach to development which incorporates social and psychological research is needed. A logical sequence of socio-psychological research as applied to development would include: prior to introduction of change stimuli, (1) a benchmark descriptive survey revealing demographic, socio-cultural, and socio-psychological dimensions; and (2) a survey--on a selected regional basis--yielding data pertinent to selection of change methodology; and, during the period of change, (3) semiannual updates of steps 1 and 2; (4) constant efforts to identify developing social problems; (5) periodic assessment regarding achievement of development goals, including analysis of the effectiveness of the diffusion process; (6) regular testing of the change methodology to provide basis for continuing/choosing alternative approaches; and (7) hypotheses testing using the more basic and resource-consuming style of research. (NEC)