In this report, the theoretical background and procedures for a study of concept learning are discussed. Several definitions of the term "concept" are analyzed, and the relations among concepts, chains of concepts, and hierarchies of concepts are explored. Conceptual learning is discussed from several points of view, and axiom systems for the learning process are described. The overall design of the study is outlined and the four treatments (rote reception, rote discovery, conceptual reception, and conceptual discovery) are described in detail. The results of this study are provided in Part 2. (SD)