AN EXPLORATORY STUDY EXAMINED CHARACTERISTICS OF 1,128 HOME DEMONSTRATION UNITS TO SUGGEST HYPOTHESES AND SCOPE FOR A MORE INTENSIVE STUDY OF A SMALL SAMPLE OF UNITS, AND TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE IN SAMPLING. DATA WERE OBTAINED FROM A SPECIALLY DESIGNED MEMBERSHIP CARD USED IN 1962. UNIT SIZE AVERAGED 23.6 MEMBERS BUT THE RANGE WAS FAIRLY GREAT. A NEED FOR EXAMINING ADJUSTMENTS IN EDUCATION PROCEDURES ACCORDING TO UNIT SIZE WAS IDENTIFIED. AN AVERAGE LENGTH OF MEMBERSHIP WAS 6.7 YEARS WITH A MEAN AGE 42.9 YEARS. THIS SUGGESTS THAT A PROGRESSIVE GRADED PROGRAM OF SUBJECT MATTER MIGHT BE OFFERED AND THAT YOUNGER WOMEN MAY NOT BE ATTRACTED TO UNIT PROGRAMS. RURAL MEMBERS PREDOMINATE A LARGE MAJORITY OF UNITS AND A SMALL NUMBER HAVE A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF URBAN MEMBERS. THIS MAY IMPLY A LACK OF INTEREST IN ATTRACTING LOW INCOME MINORITY GROUPS OF THE CITIES INTO THE PROGRAM. ABOUT ONE FIFTH OF A UNIT MEMBERS HAVE MORE THAN HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION, AND A MAJORITY OF UNITS HAVE WORKING MEMBERS. (OTHER CHARACTERISTICS AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS DISCUSSED ARE ORGANIZATIONAL ACTIVITIES, AGE OF CHILDREN, AND OCCUPATIONS OF HUSBANDS. THE MEMBERSHIP QUESTIONNAIRE CARD IS INCLUDED IN THE APPENDIX.) (PT)