This descriptive study identified teacher education programs that involve undergraduate preservice teachers in research projects. Information was gathered using interviews, documents, and telecommunications. Data were analyzed utilizing the following questions: (1) What are the goals of student teacher research projects? (2) What are the problems encountered? and (3) What are the characteristics of successful student teacher research projects? Results indicated that project goals form a continuum from improvement of instruction to social and political reformation of schools. Common problems emerging were: (1) finding ways to evaluate the goals of research experience; and (2) overcoming the common obstacles that encumber collaborative research projects in general. Creative ways to overcome these identified obstacles and problems included: (1) building communities of educators within schools who meet regularly to generate research questions, exchange ideas, and experiment together; (2) pairing student teachers with cooperating teachers who have common research interests; (3) engaging student teachers in research experiences after the student teaching semester to enhance reflection; and (4) making sure teacher educators are engaged in researching their own teaching as well as that of student teachers and cooperating teachers. (Author/LL)