A RESEARCH SURVEY IS DESCRIBED WHICH EXAMINES THE TEACHER'S ROLE IN THE SMALL RURAL SCHOOL AS IT IS PERCEIVED BY PRINCIPALS AND TEACHERS CURRENTLY EMPLOYED IN SMALL RURAL SCHOOLS, BY FACULTY MEMBERS IN COLLEGES AND DEPARTMENTS OF EDUCATION, AND BY TEACHER TRAINING STUDENTS IN FIVE STATES PARTICIPATING IN THE WESTERN STATES SMALL SCHOOLS PROJECT. THE DOCUMENT PRESENTS THE OBJECTIVES, PROCEDURES, TYPES OF QUESTIONNAIRES, THE RESULTING DATA, AND THE SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED WITH THIS STUDY. (JH)