THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS STUDY WAS TO IDENTIFY A STARTING POINT FOR RESEARCH EFFORTS IN THE STATE'S VOCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION SYSTEM. THE DIRECTORS OF THE 64 SCHOOLS OFFERING VOCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL PROGRAMS IN THE STATE RANKED, ACCORDING TO RESEARCH IMPORTANCE, THE COMPONENTS IN 14 CATEGORIES RELATING TO THE BROAD AREAS OF OCCUPATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, HUMAN RESOURCES, AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES. ALTHOUGH IN GENERAL, AGREEMENT WAS LOW, THE FOLLOWING COMPONENTS RECEIVED A PLURALITY OF FIRST PLACE RANKINGS OF RESEARCH IMPORTANCE--(1) OCCUPATIONS FOR WHICH VOCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS SHOULD BE AVAILABLE, (2) COMPETENCIES NEEDED FOR SUCCESSFUL ENTRY, PERSISTENCE, AND ADVANCEMENT, (3) FACTORS AFFECTING MOTIVATION OF THE SOCIOECONOMICALLY HANDICAPPED TO PURSUE TRAINING FOR GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT AND TO SEEK EMPLOYMENT, (4) IMPROVEMENT OF COMMUNITY ATTITUDES TOWARD VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AS PREPARATION FOR EMPLOYMENT, (5) FACTORS WHICH AFFECT DECISIONS TO MOVE AND SEEK EMPLOYMENT IN NEW SITUATIONS, (6) ASSISTING STUDENTS TO COPE EFFECTIVELY WITH CAREER CHANGES THROUGHOUT LIFE, (7) IDENTIFYING PERSONS WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM VOCATIONAL EDUCATION, AND TYPES OF TRAINING THAT WOULD BE MOST BENEFICIAL, (8) BASIC SKILLS WHICH ARE TRANSFERABLE FROM ONE OCCUPATION TO ANOTHER OR WHICH FUNCTION IN CLUSTERS, (9) CURRICULUMS FOR NEW AND EMERGING OCCUPATIONAL FIELDS, (10) OPTIMUM MIX OF THEORY AND PRACTICE, (11) SOURCES OF PERSONNEL APPROPRIATE TO SPECIFIC STAFFING NEEDS, (12) EFFECTIVE METHODS OF ORGANIZING, ADMINISTERING, AND SUPERVISING PROGRAMS OF VOCATIONAL EDUCATION, (13) EFFECTIVE VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING PROCEDURES, AND (14) FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT NECESSARY TO PREPARE PERSONS TO ENTER AND ADVANCE IN VARIOUS OCCUPATIONS. THE INSTRUMENT IS INCLUDED. (EM)