This study was designed to find out why and how students of Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) in Pakistan learn through its distance education system. Questionnaire surveys of the students and tutors were conducted in November and December, 1990. Out of 1,650 randomly selected B.A. (Bachelor of Arts) students, 661 students returned the questionnaire. About 25% of the respondents were female, and their ages ranged from 18 to 59 with an average of 30. Students' motives for studying were much clearer than those at the University of the Air in Japan. The highest responses were shown on the items of "love studying in itself" and "want to make up for my past lack of studies." The students were generally confident of success at AIOU and perceived they had achieved their course work satisfactorily. They evaluated textbooks and assignments as very effective, but some of them were not able to attend tutorial sessions. Over 80% owned their radio sets, and television was accessible by 60%. The students perceived reading textbooks as the most important element of their study. Questionnaires were returned from 188 tutors. Nearly 60% had experience as an AIOU tutor for more than 3 years. The tutors perceived reading textbooks, doing assignments, and meeting the tutors as the most important elements of studying for students at AIOU. Many of them perceived that AIOU students' motivation was higher than that of other regular college students. Their proposals for improving the instructional method of AIOU were also obtained. (Eight tables present data.) (Author)