This study was conducted to determine if the influence of key individuals on student teachers differed by preservice teaching settings and if such persons could affect differences in the perceived beliefs and behaviors of student teachers towards their pupils and towards teaching. Sixty student teachers were divided into three groups of 20 students each. Two groups, "urban" for urban elementary schools and "suburban" for suburban, used traditional teacher preparation programs. The third group, the "project" group, participated in an experimental program for students doing their preservice teaching in inner-city classrooms. The instrument used in the study was a student survey using a 10-point scale to rate the influence, positive or negative, of eight groups of people: parents, teachers, professors, peers, cooperating teachers, college supervisors, principals, and pupils' parents or other members of the community. Results indicated significant positive differences for "project" students. The results of the study support the idea that a student teacher's attitudes can be significantly influenced by the persons they encounter during the student teaching period. (JA)