Students were surveyed to determine the outcomes of participation in an introductory social science course at the Open University (England). The 18 students were taking their first Open University course, and most had little recent formal education. Many were unsure about their ability to handle the course and did not know what to expect of it. Some were surprised at the breadth of course content, others at the lack of contact with other students and lack of formal tutoring. Some wanted more direction; others wanted less. The concept of learning as an assimilation of pieces of information was unfamiliar to some, and that process had to be learned also. Student preferences seemed divided into two groups: those who liked the economics and disliked the sociology, and those who liked sociology and disliked economics. Students' perceived gains included knowledge of the subject areas, perspective on society, growth of skepticism, a broadening of awareness, perception of changes within oneself, and orientation to studying. Notes on the method of conducting student interviews are appended. (MSE)