Appropriate for high school students, a research project to ascertain community needs and problems is outlined. Suggestions for research include areas of economic structure, government, education, and housing. Students are introduced to methods of data gathering (observation, questioning, and use of existing data) and to sources of data such as census tracts, Chamber of Commerce, League of Women Voters, and social science agencies. A discussion of random samples, systematic samples, and data interpretation is also provided. Questionnaires included in the document focus on research design, police/community relations, housing, and public opinion. The guide also describes polling procedures used in a New Jersey high school. (KC)