The paper details the assumptions about learning disabled (LD) adolescents and young adults as well as assumptions about conducting research with this population held by researchers at the Kansas Institute for Research in Learning Disabilities. Several factors and events which have directed the attention of educators and researchers to the needs of LD adolescents and young adults are pointed out, including passage of P.L. 94-142 (the Education for All Handicapped Children Act). The focus of the Institute is delineated in terms of research goals and objectives (such as to develop profiles of optimal settings for maximum performance). Research strategies for developing an epidemiology data base are outlined. Sections address target communities, marker variables, function of researchers, quality control procedures, and the data based management system. Described is implementation of Level I (designed to collect data) and Level II (designed to study selected constructs, theories, threats to validity, or identify and validate interrelationships among variables) research strategies. (Author/SB)