ADULT ILLITERATES OF WESTERN NEW YORK WERE STUDIED TO DETERMINE THEIR ATTITUDES TOWARD READING MATERIALS AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. THE EXPERIENCE INVENTORY WAS USED TO INVESTIGATE EACH SUBJECT'S IDENTIFICATION AND BACKGROUND, THE EXTENT OF HIS FUNCTIONAL AND GENERAL KNOWLEDGE, AND HIS READING-ASSOCIATED INTERESTS. EIGHTEEN HIGH ACHIEVERS AND 22 LOW ACHIEVERS WERE IDENTIFIED FROM AMONG 207 ADULTS ATTENDING ADULT BASIC EDUCATION CLASSES IN BUFFALO AND NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK. RESULTS REVEALED THAT HIGH ACHIEVERS WERE LESS FREQUENTLY ON WELFARE, MORE FREQUENTLY WOMEN, AND CAME FROM LESS DEPRIVED BACKGROUNDS. IN INDICATING REASONS FOR LACK OF ACHIEVEMENT, ACHIEVERS MENTIONED PERSONAL OR PARENTAL DISINTEREST, ILLNESS, FOREIGN BIRTH, AND POVERTY. NONACHIEVERS POINTED TO INABILITY TO PROFIT FROM INSTRUCTION AND LACK OF SCHOOLS. NEITHER GROUP MENTIONED POOR TEACHING. THERE WAS A VERY SLIGHT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO GROUPS' ATTITUDE TOWARD TELEVISION AND RADIO PROGRAMS. THE READING-ASSOCIATED INTERESTS MOST FREQUENTLY CHOSEN IN TERMS OF TITLES PRESENTED WERE FAMILY, SELF-IMPROVEMENT, JOBS, AND HEALTH. HIGH ACHIEVERS PREFERRED SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS. IT WAS ALSO FOUND THAT ADULT CORE CITY ILLITERATES OFTEN POSSESSED A HIGH DEGREE OF POSITIVE ATTITUDES WHICH HELPED THEM PROFIT FROM ADULT EDUCATION INSTRUCTION. THIS PAPER WAS PRESENTED AT THE NATIONAL READING CONFERENCE (TAMPA, NOVEMBER 30 - DECEMBER 2, 1967). (NS)