The 3 principal objectives of this study were (1) to determine leader characteristics and attitudes toward resource development programs and development organizations in the Roosevelt County and Fort Peck Reservation area; (2) to measure understanding of concepts and attitudes about area development, Federal programs, and other factors associated with development activities; and (3) to derive therefrom basic principles and approaches for more effective implementation of development programs. A list of leaders was obtained by (1) telephoning 75 randomly selected persons, (2) securing lists of elected leaders of organizations with 15 members or more, (3) interviewing professional people with extensive contacts in the area, (4) listing significant elective or appointive office holders, (5) listing leaders mentioned by local newspapers, and (6) asking leaders selected in the first 5 steps to suggest other leaders. Individuals from the study area who were selected most consistently formed the final interviewing sample--a total of 84 non-Indians and 31 Indians. Each selected leader was asked to participate in a detailed personal interview wherein an attempt was made to identify and probe a number of factors relevant to area development, such as knowledge of ongoing development efforts, knowledge of basic development principles, and awareness of existing alternative programs of area development. This report describes the major findings of the study and discusses some of the implications and potential recommendations that might be derived. (LS)