This collection contains revised versions of 15 state-of-the-art papers and 7 commentaries given at the first conference of the New Zealand Association for Research in Education (NZARE). Each article surveys a single field relating to contemporary educational research in New Zealand, including the aims, methods, and significance of the studies reviewed. The authors have included bibliographies and lists of other scholars working in their fields. The 15 topics covered are: early childhood education, child development, education of Maori children, special education, guidance and counseling, sociology of education, women and education, history of education, measurement and testing, classroom studies, behavior analysis, reading, science education, mathematics education, and continuing education. (Author/GPM)