The field of education research has grown enormously in England over the last 25 years--in size, complexity, forms of production and purpose. It has been shaped by governmental, market and production changes, and it appears to be moving outside the university sector as well. The British Educational Research Association is trying to map the field and to make sense of its development. This article begins with a search for relevant data about the key elements in the field--personnel, institutions, output, etc.--and tries to draw conclusions about the next steps in the inquiry. (Contains 6 figures, 12 tables and 9 notes.)