Copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone (NVP) comonomer with styrene (St), hydroxypropyl methacrylate (HPMA) and carboxyphenyl maleimide (CPMI) were synthesized by free radical polymerization using 2,2'-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) initiator in 1,4-dioxane solvent. The copolymers formed were characterized by FTIR, 1 H NMR and 1 3 C NMR techniques and their thermal properties were studied by DSC and TGA. Copolymer composition was determined by 1 H NMR and/or by elemental analysis and monomer reactivity ratios (MRR) were estimated by the linear methods of Kelen-Tudos (K-T) and extended Kelen-Tudos (EK-T) and the non-linear approach. Copolymers of St and HPMA with NVP formed blocks of one of the monomer units, whereas alternating copolymers were obtained in CPMI-NVP, depending upon the side chain substitution. The MRR values are discussed in terms of monomer structural properties such as electronegativity and electron delocalization. The sequence distribution of monomers in the copolymers was studied by statistical method based on the average reactivity ratios obtained by EK-T method.