To assess hyperactive children's perceptions of drug treatment, a Causal Attribution Questionnaire was developed and introduced as a series of brief stories about "make believe" children to 36 hyperactive males (6 to 13 years) and a comparison group of 35 males. Results showed that the older the child in terms of chronological age, the greater the tendency to attribute causality to internal and unstable factors, i.e., to factors perceived to be amenable to personal control. Among conclusions drawn were that young hyperactive children who use fewer unstable attributions (particularly ones involving efforts) may be more likely to view single performances as determinative of subsequent outcome since each performance outcome is viewed as being based on variables beyond their immediate control; therefore, these children may be more likely to be discouraged by failure, and tend to give up more readily when early successes are not followed by subsequent success. (SBH)