THE SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY WERE TO--(1) IDENTIFY AND EVALUATE GUIDELINES, (2) COMPARE TEACHER AND PROGRAM CHARACTERISTICS IN DISTRIBUTIVE, TRADE AND INDUSTRIAL, AND AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION WITH COOPERATIVE WORK EXPERIENCE PROGRAMS, (3) DETERMINE SITUATIONAL FACTORS AND CHARACTERISTICS THAT INFLUENCE THE IMPORTANCE ASSIGNED TO GUIDELINES, AND (4) COMPARE THE IMPORTANCE ASSIGNED TO ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURES ASSOCIATED WITH COOPERATIVE PROGRAMS. A TOTAL OF 317, 83 PERCENT, OF THE ELIGIBLE RESPONDENT TEACHERS, USING A FIVE-POINT SCALE, RATED THE IMPORTANCE OF 18 GUIDING STATEMENTS AND IMPLEMENTATION PROCEDURES. MEAN RATINGS OF TEACHERS IN THE THREE VOCATIONAL EDUCATION GROUPS RANKED THE STATEMENTS AND PROCEDURAL ITEMS IN THE FOLLOWING ORDER OF IMPORTANCE--(1) COORDINATION, (2) STUDENT SELECTION, (3) PROGRAM PROMOTION, (4) STUDENT EVALUATION, (5) TEACHER-COORDINATOR VISITATION, (6) INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS, (7) TRAINING STATION SELECTION, (8) RECORDS AND REPORTS, (9) CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION, (10) PROGRAM EVALUATION, (11) POLICY, (12) FACILITIES, (13) EMPLOYER OBLIGATION, (14) FOLLOWUP, (15) TRAINING PLANS, (16) SURVEYS, (17) SCHOOL-EMPLOYER AGREEMENTS, AND (18) ADVISORY COMMITTEES. THE STATEMENTS WERE OF SIMILAR IMPORTANCE REGARDLESS OF THE VOCATIONAL SERVICE PROVIDING THE TRAINING. ALTHOUGH CERTAIN FACTORS AND CHARACTERISTICS INFLUENCED TEACHER'S RATINGS OF THE STATEMENTS, THEY SIGNIFICANTLY INFLUENCED ONLY A SMALL NUMBER. RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNED EXPANDING COOPERATIVE TRAINING TO PROVIDE EXPERIENCE IN OFF-FARM AGRICULTURAL OCCUPATIONS, DEVELOPING AN EVALUATION DEVICE BASED ON THE GUIDING STATEMENTS, AND IMPROVING TEACHER PLANNING AND PERFORMANCE. THE COMPLETE DISSERTATION BY B. HAROLD ANDERSON IS AVAILABLE AS 66-9995 FOR $3.75 ON MICROFILM AND FOR $13.05 AS XEROXED COPY FROM UNIVERSITY MICROFILMS, INC., 300 NORTH ZEEB ROAD, ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN 48106. (JM)