A pilot study was conducted at two middle schools to investigate the relationship among student locus of control, field dependency, self-esteem, and achievement. A relationship between self-esteem and achievement has already been identified by research; another variable considered as a possible effect on a person's predisposition to achieve was locus of control--the degree to which an individual feels that reward follows from personal behavior or endeavor, or that reward is controlled by outside forces. Field independence (extracting data from a field of information by personal cognition) or field dependence (viewing a field of information as a whole and applying it directly) were also considered as possible variables related to achievement. The Nowicki-Strickland locus of control scale for children; the Behavioral Academic Self-Esteem Rating Scale by Coopersmith and Gilberts; and the Group Embedded Figures Test by Oltman, Raskin, and Witkin were administered to 33 students. This pilot study concentrated on the methodology, statistical processing, and testing instruments; the analysis of results and conclusions will form a basis for the primary investigation (currently in process) which is targeting remedial help for academically disadvantaged students. (JD)