The purpose of this study was to assess the extent to which relationships exist between the perceptions of local supervisors of social studies, social studies teachers, and building principals relative to the role of the local supervisor of social studies education. Data were gathered to determine the perceptions of supervisors, teachers, and principals regarding actual and ideal performance on forty-two selected supervisory activities. The descriptive-survey method was utilized in the study. Population sample included twenty local social studies supervisors, one hundred and ninety-seven building principals, and four hundred and sixty social studies teachers. The four hundred and sixty social studies teachers (twenty-five percent) and one hundred and ninety-seven building principals represented employees in each school division in Virginia during the 1980-81 school year where local supervisors of social studies education were employed full-time. Mail questionnaires were developed, piloted, and forwarded to the selected sample population. Usable responses were received from three hundred and twenty-five teachers (seventy-one percent), one hundred and fifty-one building principals (seventy-seven percent), and twenty local supervisors of social studies (one hundred percent). The alpha level selected for determination of statistical significance and rejection of the seven null hypotheses was p < .05. Descriptive statistics, correlated t tests, uncorrelated t tests, and the Spearman rho (ρ) were used in analyzing the data. Data were reported by means, frequencies, ranks, standard deviations, and percentages. To analyze data within groups the correlated t test was used. The uncorrelated t test was used to analyze the data between groups. To determine the relationship between the rank differences reported by the sample groups, Spearman rho (ρ) correlations were computed using the formula: ρ = l - (6Σd²)/[N(N² - 1l)] In a comparison of perceptions of local supervisors of social studies education versus perceptions of teachers regarding actual performance on forty-two selected supervisory activities, it was determined that there was a high agreement between teachers and supervisors as to the order of priority placed on activities by supervisors. The Spearman rho computation based on rank differences of actual time spent as perceived by supervisors and the teacher's perceptions of actual time spent yielded a high positive correlation. Also, principals and supervisors were in close agreement as to the priority of supervisors' actual use of time. A high positive correlation was found to exist based upon rankings of the two groups relative to actual use of supervisors' time. Significant differences were noted between the perceptions of local supervisors of social studies education and those of social studies teachers and building principals relative to ideal supervisory performance. Teachers and supervisors were in moderate agreement relative to the setting of priorities for time utilization by supervisors across the forty-two activities. Principals and supervisors were in high agreement relative to the priorities based on ideal rankings for supervisors. Major findings of the study were as follows: 1. Supervisors, teachers, and principals agreed that supervisors should spend more time on nearly all of the identified activities than they currently do. 2. Each group surveyed agreed that the ideal performance of supervisors should be closely related to that group's perceptions of what supervisors currently do. 3. There was a high positive correlation between the supervisors, teachers, and principals as to the allocation of priorities by supervisors. 4. There was a moderate to high positive correlation across groups as to how supervisors should allocate their time. / Ed. D.