The first of a three-volume final report contains results of six studies on teaching visually impaired students (grades 4-12) to use recorded reference materials. It is explained in the first study that 36 blind Ss demonstrated an acceptable level of proficiency in using dictionary and encyclopedia materials after being trained on the Aural Study System (a combination special record player, unique record format and related written material). The second study reports on an adaptation of the Aural Study System and describes results of two field trials with 25 legally blind Ss. The third study focuses on an investigation of the relative accuracy and time requirements for 48 legally blind students on six written indexes which accompany the aural reference system. Reported are findings of a fourth experiment which indicate that 24 legally blind Ss used a cassette adaptation of the system with accuracy and within time limits, but that the system required further refinements to improve its reliability. A comparison of accuracy and time for recorded dictionary materials and more familiar braille or large type materials is reported in the fifth study involving 16 legally blind sixth and seventh graders. The sixth study describes a consumer review of the cassette dictionary in which 80% of the Ss (10 mature blind consumers, 10 teachers of secondary level blind students, and 10 librarians at residential schools for the blind) stated that they preferred a written dictionary to a recorded one. (CL)