A study was made of differences between participants and nonparticipants in rural adult education in British Columbia. Interviews were held with 881 household heads (126 participants, 755 nonparticipants). In general, participants were younger, had a higher standard of living, were more active in formal organizations, had more education, worked in higher prestige occupations, and had higher job earnings, than nonparticipants. Participants and nonparticipants appeared to have markedly different attitudes toward change, although many of the differences observed were accounted for by age and education. When these and other variables were controlled, however, participants were more willing than nonparticipants to give up their spare time to further their education, and they noted a greater need for more education to insure satisfactory employment in the future. To secure wider participation of the rural population in continuing education programs, it would first seem necessary to encourage the development of favorable attitudes toward change. (Nine references and 20 tables are included.) (ly)