Reporting on the 1977 Dallas Conference where 14 women representing 6 ethinc backgrounds explored the possibilities of expanding the role of minority women in educational research, this document includes 5 major sections (with individual summaries and recommendations), a bibliography, and an appendix. Major sections of this document present the following: defining the problem of women in research and development (previous conferences and reports are discussed, particularly the National Institute of Education reports and conferences); preparing for the conference (pre-conference study materials and beliefs are assessed as is the division of participants into 3 groups to consider questions related to K-12 educational activities, higher education, and a community based research career ladder); training minority women currently in education (needed skills are identified as communication, interpersonal, research design, quantitative, and project management skills; target audiences are identified as local education agencies, state education agencies, universities, regional laboratories, professional associations, and funding sources); expanding the role of minority women at universities (programs which universities can implement immediately are defined); training minority women via a career ladder approach (a model is presented which involves increasingly complex research skills and formal education and provides for research aides/technicians, research colleagues and interns, research adjuncts, and professional researchers). (JC)