The Employment Department have commissioned three studies of attitudes to individual commitment to learning. The first in the series examined individuals' attitudes to learning (SN:3305), the second was concerned with employers' attitudes to learning (SN:3445) while the third covered the providers of adult learning (SN:3446). Taken together, the three studies have been designed to produce an overall picture and explanation of attitudes to adult learning. The aim of this study, the first in the series, was to increase understanding of, experience of, and attitudes towards, vocational learning; identify barriers to participation in vocational learning; examine impact which removal of barriers might have on take up of learning. Awareness of availability and types of learning available; past/present experience of learning; attitudes to learning; perceived costs/benefits of learning; prerequisites for future participation in learning; attitudes to work; attitudes to full-time education.