The study discusses the development of attitudinal measures regarding community based residential facilities for retarded adults and presents results from two tests administered to 75 adults living near a facility housing 36 retarded adults. It is explained that interviews were conducted with the adults to determine their previous contact with retarded people, the number of children in their home, their permanence of residence, socioeconomic status, age, first language, level of education, religion, and religiosity. Results are said to demonstrate that the main concern was not related to the effect of retarded people on their neighbors, but rather to issues pertaining to operation of the group home. Safety and economic concerns are reported to be of secondary importance, with nuisance concerns of least importance. Implications for group home planners are discussed. (CL)