In an attempt to determine the variables that best predict HOME (Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment) scores, a measure for identifying young at-risk children, 52 mothers of infants completed questionnaires based on HOME. Clinical observation of mother-child interaction was also performed. The questionnaire was found to be significantly correlated with the HOME but the observational assessments were not found to increase the predictive ability of the questionnaires (HEQs-Home Evaluation Questionnaires). Analysis of HEQ's predictive ability revealed that HEQ added significantly to the amount of HOME variance predicted by status variables alone. Further, the HEQ was able to discriminate between low and high HOME scores among the 52 families, most particularly among families suspected to be at risk due to mother's educational attainment or family's social status level. HEQ's advantages in terms of ease of administration were noted. (Sample HEQ and HOME forms are appended.) (CL)