This document contains four papers presented at a symposium on the status of human resource development (HRD) research moderated by Barry Johansen at the 1996 conference of the Academy of Human Resource Development. "An Exploration of the Type of Research Appearing in the AHRD Conference Proceedings" (David E. Arnold) reviews and classifies the research appearing in the AHRD conference proceedings in 1994-1995. "Identifying Core Journals for HRD Research: Process and Results" (Catherine M. Sleezer, James H. Sleezer, R. Wayne Pace) discusses their identification of 258 journals that published 1,290 refereed human resource development (HRD) research-related articles in 1980-1994 and 18 journals that each published more 15 articles during the same period. Anders Vind's paper "HRD Research and Trade Union Cooperation" describes how research-based cooperation with trade unions in Denmark has proved to be a productive development within the field of HRD research. "Theoretical, Conceptual, and Methodological Issues Surrounding a Large Scale Change Effort: The Ford Motor Company/University of Georgia Manager as Instructor Research Project" (Karen E. Watkins et al.) traces the evolving role of managers as educational leaders for the learning organization and evaluates the effectiveness of the manager-as-instructor approach as implemented by the Ford Motor Company in Georgia. Papers contain references. (MN)