The Character of Knowledge Transfer Resulting from Interactions between the Rural Oldtimers and Rural Newcomers

The research objective of the paper is to diagnose and assess knowledge transfer, taking place within rural areas as a consequence of contacts between rural inhabitants and the newcomers from towns. The survey and in-depth interviews were carried out in 18 villages from various regions of Poland. Answers to three study questions were sought: what kinds of knowledge are being transferred between the inhabitants of villages and towns? what are the main directions and related intensities in this knowledge transfer? and what are the consequences of the transfer? Knowledge transfer takes place during sporadic encounters mainly in public places – streets, central squares, shops. We concluded that permanent rural dwellers are primarily the source of current and practical information, while the newcomers from towns provide, side by side with the informative knowledge, also knowledge of advisory and non-material character. The newcomers from the urban areas value higher the advantages from the knowledge and information transferred to them than the permanent dwellers of the countryside.