THE AUTHOR EXAMINES LISTENING GROUP PROJECTS IN OVER 30 COUNTRIES SINCE THE 1920S. THE HISTORICAL STUDY AND THE REVIEW OF RESEARCH DEAL WITH PURPOSES AND OUTCOMES OF PROJECTS, CLIENTELE, BROADCASTS AND SUPPLEMENTAL PRINTED MATERIALS, METHODS OF GROUP ORGANIZATION, METHODS OF POST-BROADCAST DISCUSSIONS, GROUP LEADERSHIP, AND FEEDBACK. DIRECT AND RELATED RESEARCH IS EVALUATED IN TERMS OF THE CONCLUSION THAT SUCH GROUPS CAN SPREAD THE LEARNING OF FACTUAL MATERIAL, HELP DEVELOP DESIRED ATTITUDES, INCREASE INTEREST IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS, AFFECT MOTIVATION TOWARD GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL ACTION, AND CONTRIBUTE TO MORE DIRECT DEMOCRACY. OTHER RESEARCH FINDINGS SUGGEST THAT PROJECTS NEED A SUBSTANTIAL STAFF OF FIELD ORGANIZERS, AND THAT LISTENING GROUPS ATTRACT CLIENTELE OF LOWER ECONOMIC AND EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT THAN THE TYPICAL PARTICIPANT IN ADULT EDUCATION. SPECIAL EMPHASIS IS PLACED ON EARLY EFFORTS OF THE BRITISH BROADCASTING CORPORATION, AMERICA'S TOWN MEETING OF THE AIR, CANADA'S NATIONAL FARM RADIO FORUM, AND THE MANY PROJECTS OF UNESCO IN UNDERDEVELOPED AREAS. (THIS DOCUMENT IS A REVISION AND ADAPTATION OF A DOCTORAL DISSERTATION PRESENTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT LOS ANGELES.) THIS DOCUMENT IS ALSO AVAILABLE FROM THE CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF LIBERAL EDUCATION FOR ADULTS, 138 MOUNTFORT ST., BROOKLINE, MASS. 02146. (LY)