THE BACKGROUNDS, CAREERS, AND PERFORMANCE OF MEN AND WOMEN AS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS WERE EXAMINED TO RELATE SEX DIFFERENCE TO THE FUNCTIONING OF THEIR SCHOOLS. THIS REPORT REPRESENTED THE SECOND OF SEVERAL MONOGRAPHS THAT PRESENTED THE FINDINGS OF THE NATIONAL PRINCIPALSHIP STUDY, "A COMPREHENSIVE INVESTIGATION OF THE ROLE OF SCHOOL PRINCIPALS IN PUBLIC EDUCATION." DATA REQUIRED FOR THIS EXAMINATION WERE OBTAINED FROM A NATIONAL CROSS-SAMPLE OF ABOUT 190 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS IN OVER 40 LARGE SCHOOL SYSTEMS. IT WAS EMPHASIZED THAT ALL FINDINGS OF THIS PROJECT HAVE REFERENCE TO GROUP OR CLASS, NOT INDIVIDUAL, DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN PRINCIPALS. THESE SEX DIFFERENCES WERE EVALUATED, USING THE FOLLOWING FACTORS FOR COMPARISON--(1) CAREER DECISIONS AND OCCUPATIONAL HISTORIES, (2) SPECIFIC REACTIONS TO AND FEELINGS ABOUT WORK, AND (3) JOB PERFORMANCE AND OPERATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE RESPECTIVE SCHOOLS. MANY ASPECTS IN EACH OF THESE AREAS WERE FOUND TO HAVE DIRECT ASSOCIATIONS WITH SEX DIFFERENCES. ADDITIONAL RESEARCH WAS RECOMMENDED TO EXPAND THIS STUDY TO OTHER SCHOOL POPULATIONS, AS WELL AS SUCH AREAS AS BUSINESS AND THE PROFESSIONS. (JH)