A survey of school district superintendents sought to gather data on a number of characteristics and compare the data to studies conducted in 1971 and 1982. From a random sample of 2,536 superintendents, stratified by district size, usable survey responses were received from 1,724, for a return rate of 68 percent, or 11 percent of all United States superintendents. In the study sample of 1,724 superintendents, only 115 are women, and only 66 are minority. The 1992 study includes data on the following: (1) personal profiles of superintendents, including gender, age, family status, education, and area of residence; (2) relationships with board members, including evaluation and terms of employment; (3) characteristics of school districts, including staffing, hiring practices, programming, and size; (4) selected community characteristics, including their involvement and influence in district decision making; (5) superintendents' opinions on key problems and issues in education; (6) issues surrounding the preparation of superintendents and professional development of practicing superintendents; and (7) career patterns of superintendents. (Contains 91 references.) (MLF)