A study examined public attitudes toward entrepreneurs and small business owners and people's perceptions of the entrepreneurial character and challenge. Information was gathered from two surveys, composed of three samples, conducted in 1985. Samples included: (1) 1,001 persons contacted through random telephone dialing; (2) 250 telephone interviews with people drawn randomly from Detroit; and (3) 503 random interviews drawn from Michigan exclusive of Detroit. Results were reported separately for each of the three samples and for geographic subregions within the United States. The survey found that nearly one-fifth of the national sample gave job creation a very high rating as a public issue and that people perceive large businesses as more important than new and small ones in creating jobs and economic opportunity. One portion of the survey found the perception that entrepreneurs and small business owners were less politically influential than persons holding other occupations such as union leaders, corporate executives, federal workers, teachers, and farmers. Most agreed that entrepreneurship gives more control over one's life, and a substantial number exhibited the risk-taking characteristics of entrepreneurs. Respondents in all samples perceived substantial barriers for blacks and women wanting to start a business. Throughout the discussion, responses to these questions were compared for differences related to regional residence, gender, race, nativity, income and education, size of employer, and experience as a business owner. Relatively little regional variation in attitudes was found. (KC)