Although the practice of journeying to a foreign country for educational purposes has an ancient history, it has only recently had a great impact on American higher education. A rapid increase in the number of programs and the number of student participants began in the mid-1950's and continues presently. This research project was conducted during the 1972-73 academic year with students who participated in study abroad programs. Its purpose was to increase the understanding of the effects of study abroad on American students. Participants represented a variety of backgrounds, interests and characteristics and most were juniors. The claims that study abroad results in significant changes toward more international, liberal, open-minded, self-confident attitudes were not supported by the study's findings. Also, the theory that direct contact with a foreign people results in more positive attitudes toward them was not only not supported, but the opposite result was discovered. The results indicate that student's perceptions of the host country became more realistic and, therefore, less positive during the stay abroad. This research project was designed to accomplish the following purposes: to indicate what types of students change in what ways; as an aid in the selection of students for study abroad; to indicate the relationships between certain experiences and situations while abroad with attitude and value changes; as an aid in structuring study abroad programs; and to stimulate further research in this field. (Author/PG)