This report presents the highlights of a United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) conference that was convened to give impetus to and encourage research programs, to analyze research policy formation, and to establish research priorities in the field of educational planning and administration. The document includes a description of the development and results of a questionnaire designed to obtain information on educational decision making, policy, and research in Latin American and Caribbean countries. Part 1 describes the conference format and program. Part 2 presents participant countries' national educational research efforts and experiences, and part 3 discusses the principal conference conclusions and recommendations. Appendices include: (1) a list of participating countries and participants; (2) a list of the presented papers; (3) three speeches delivered at the opening session; and (4) the conference agenda. (JHP)