THE RATIONALE OF THIS STUDY, UNDERTAKEN TO INCREASE UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROGRAM RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE STATE LEADER OF HOME ECONOMICS EXTENSION, IS THE ASSUMPTION THAT LEADERSHIP IS FACILITATED--(1) WHEN ACTUAL PERFORMANCE AND ROLE EXPECTATIONS OF THE STATE LEADER ARE CLEARLY DEFINED AND AGREED UPON BY THREE POSITION GROUPS (HOME ECONOMICS SPECIALISTS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND SUPERVISORS) AND (2) WHEN THE STATE LEADER INFLUENCES THE ACTIVITIES OF THE EXTENSION SERVICE. A QUESTIONNAIRE WAS COMPLETED BY 53 ADMINISTRATORS, 73 SUPERVISORS, AND 72 SPECIALISTS IN EIGHT SOUTHERN AND NORTH CENTRAL STATES TO DETERMINE ACTUAL AND IDEAL PARTICIPATION OF THE STATE LEADER IN FOUR PROGRAM AREAS--POLICIES AND OBJECTIVES, EXECUTION, DETERMINATION, AND EVALUATION--AND TO DEFINE RELATIONSHIPS, IF ANY, BETWEEN BACKGROUND FACTORS AND PROGRAM LEADERSHIP. RESPONDENTS IN FOUR STATES WERE ALSO INTERVIEWED. ALL GROUPS EXPECTED MORE LEADERSHIP THAN WAS PROVIDED. DEGREE OF PROGRAM LEADERSHIP WAS ASSOCIATED WITH PERCEIVED RESPONSIBILITY FOR PROGRAM, PERSONNEL, AND USE OF FUNDS, AND WITH FREQUENCY OF CONTACT WITH THE STATE LEADER. SUPERVISORS DESIRED LESS INCREASED PARTICIPATION OF THE STATE LEADER IN PROGRAM ACTIVITIES THAN DID ADMINISTRATORS AND SPECIALISTS. THIS DOCUMENT IS AVAILABLE FROM UNIVERSITY MICROFILMS, ANN ARBOR, MICH., ORDER NO. 64-3208, MICROFILM $4.85, XEROGRAPHY $17.10, 378 PAGES. (AUTHOR/AJ)