Investigations of (1) the extent to which parent involvement training is included in the pre-service training of elementary and preschool teachers, (2) external and mediational influences on parent models of child socialization, and (3) the relevance of parent education programs to changing family structures are reported. Data were gathered from individuals associated with colleges and universities, organizations, and agencies located in the six-state region encompassing Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. All three studies were done by survey questionnaire or by a combination of paper-and-pencil instruments, questionnaires, and structured interviews. For the study of parent involvement training in pre-service education, 575 teachers of elementary education courses completed the survey questionnaire. The study of influences on parent models of child socialization obtained data from members of two parent organizations: Mothers Incorporated and Mothers of Twins. The study of the relevance of parent education programs surveyed the directors of parent education programs of any type and decision makers in other agencies, such as the Junior League and the American Red Cross in the six-state region. Results are discussed. Extensive appendices provide copies of questionnaires, interview schedules, and other measures used; a discussion of personal construct theory; profiles of parent education programs; descriptions of samples; and findings and selected references. (Author/RH)