The role of governments in the operation of education research and development systems is under critical scrutiny throughout the developed world. The introductory chapter presents the main themes of a seminar held in 1992 and outlines challenges for further work. The next 10 chapters focus on education research and development issues: (1) "Educational Research Policy in the United States: Background and Overview for the Joint OERI/OECD Seminar" (Tommy M. Tomlinson); (2) "Trends, Issues and Problems in Educational Research in a Group of OECD Countries" (Desmond L. Nuttall); (3) "The OERI/CERI Seminar on Educational Research and Development: A Synthesis and Commentary" (Michael Huberman); (4) "Research and Education Reform: A Study of the Federal Role in United States' Education Research and Development" (Katherine Bick; Gregg B. Jackson); (5) "Changes in the Relationship between Educational Research and Policy: The Case of the Netherlands" (Paul M. M. van Oijen); (6) "Teachers as Critical Consumers of Research" (Michael G. Fullan); (7) "Near the Chalk Face: New Approaches to Research for Education Renovation" (Bob W. Connell); (8) "Uniting Producers and Consumers: Challenges in Creating and Utilizing Educational Research and Development" (Susan H. Fuhrman); (9) "In Search of New Structures and Procedures for Organizing Government Funded Education Research and Development" (Thomas K. Glennan, Jr.); and (10) "Afterwards: Research and Reform in the United States" (Tommy M. Tomlinson). Biographies of the 11 authors follow the articles. (CK)