These proceedings consist of the papers presented at a conference on vocational education research in the 1980s. The first group of papers deals with various approaches to, and priorities for, vocational education research in the 1980s. Discussed in the next group of papers are national perspectives on research programming. Following this group are nine papers devoted to state and local perspectives on research programming; topics addressed include the following: vocational education program improvement; a research development agenda for the 1980s that would cover productivity, economic advancement, and human resource development; programming recommendations regarding curriculum; and the perspectives of a superintendent of schools on vocational research and development. Presented in the fourth group of papers are the views of five individual researchers pertaining to directions and approaches for vocational education research to take in the 1980s. Appendixes to the proceedings include a colloquium agenda and a list of colloquium participants. (MN)