Developed for an NIH training institute, this volume is organized around the most frequently asked questions by researchers starting their careers in applied research in child and adolescent development. With contributions from the leading scholars in the field, actual research experiences highlight the challenges one faces in conducting such research. The techniques and theoretical frameworks most suitable for guiding the applied research process are reviewed along with related ethical and cultural considerations. Each chapter features the authors' introduction to their own careers in applied research. Also included are practical tips, case studies, and sidebars featuring frequently asked questions. This practical resource provides tips on how to: (1) Modify the most frequently used methodological techniques while maintaining the integrity of the data; (2) Manage the unpredictable nature of real world research; (3) Frame community relevant research questions in an academically acceptable way; (4) Secure funding to conduct applied research; and (4) Disseminate the research results so as to have the greatest impact on policy and practice. The book opens with the most frequently asked questions, tips on getting started in an applied research career, and an overview of and theoretical framework for generating applied developmental research ideas. Section 2 focuses on research designs including the most frequently used methodological and measurement techniques and tips on how to modify them to applied settings. Ethical challenges and cultural issues in working with special populations are also addressed. Section 3 focuses on conducting applied research in school, community, and clinical settings with an emphasis on the challenges encountered when conducting actual research as opposed to the more controlled settings taught in a classroom. Guidelines for protecting the populations involved in the study and strategies for recruiting and retaining participants are also addressed for disseminating research findings so as to have the greatest impact on policy and practice, for publishing research, and for securing funding. Intended as a practical guide, this book is ideal for those just starting their careers in applied research, for students preparing their dissertations, and for the faculty who prepare these students. The book's accessible approach also appeals to researchers in the behavioral, social, and health sciences, education, and those in government and industry. This book is divided into four parts. Part 1, Getting Started With Applied Research on Child and Adolescent Development, contains the following: (1) Getting Started: Answering your Frequently Asked Questions About Applied Research on Child and Adolescent Development (D. Blachman, L. Esposito); (2) Applied Developmental Science: Definitions and Dimensions (R. Lerner); and (3) Letting Your Questions Guide the Way: Framing Applied Questions in Child and Adolescent Development Research (P. Cole). Part 2, Challenges and Issues Conducting Applied Research on Child and Adolescent Development, contains the following: (4)Designing Studies of Special Populations: Establishing and Maintaining Trust in Research Relationships (P. Spicer); (5) Challenges and Issues in Designing Applied Research (R.B. McCall, C.J. Groark); and (6) Ethical Issues and Challenges in Applied Research in Child and Adolescent Development (C. Fisher, A.L. Fried). Part 3, Conducting Research in Applied Settings, contains the following: (7) Conducting Translational Research on Child Development in Community Settings: What You Need to Know and Why it's Worth the Effort (N.G. Guerra, M.S. Leidy); (8) Conducting Applied Research in School Settings: Common Challenges and Practical Suggestions (D.J. Schonfeld); (9) Conducting Applied Research in Clinical Settings: Why to do it and How (L.M. Knox). Part 4, How to Make the Most of Your Applied Research, contains the following: (10) Getting Funded in Applied Child and Adolescent Development Research: The Art and Science of Applying for Grants (D. Berch); (11) Communicating and Disseminating Your Applied Research Findings to the Public (M.A. McCabe, A. Bing); (12) I am Pleased to Accept Your Manuscript: Publishing Your Research on Child and Adolescent Development (L. Liben); and (13) Conclusion and Future Directions (V. Maholmes, C. Lomonaco).