DATA FOR THIS PAPER, PRESENTED AT THE TWENTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE SOUTHERN SOCIOLOGICAL SOCIETY AT ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA ON APRIL 17, 1964, WERE DERIVED FROM THE AUTHOR'S RESEARCH ACTIVITIES AMONG THE SPANISH SPEAKING PEOPLE OF NORTHERN NEW MEXICO AND FROM HIS PARTICIPATION IN COUNTY AND REGIONAL PLANNING ORGANIZATIONS. THE GEOGRAPHIC REGION OF NORTHERN NEW MEXICO IS A SOUTHERN EXTENSION OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS DESCRIBED AS A WOODED UPLAND PENINSULA RISING ABOVE THE GENERAL SEMI-DESERT. THE HISTORY OF THE SPANISH AMERICAN CULTURE OF THIS REGION DESCRIBES A PATRON-PEON SYSTEM, COMMUNAL LAND GRANTS, AND ISOLATED, SELF-SUFFICIENT SOCIAL VILLAGES. MAJOR OBSTACLES TO EFFECTIVE PLANNING INCLUDE (1) STEREOTYPED ATTITUDES, (2) LANGUAGE BARRIER, (3) FAILURE TO CONTACT THE REAL SPANISH AMERICAN LEADERS, (4) FAILURE TO RECOGNIZE THE NATURE OF THE VILLAGE ECONOMY, AND (5) FAILURE TO DEVELOP PROGRAMS SPECIFIC TO THE AREA AND NEEDS. FOURTEEN SUGGESTED TOPICS FOR RESEARCH ARE OFFERED. (SF)