Educational research in Asia and the Pacific is examined from the perspective of reform in instructional content and method. Information based on speeches and discussion at a regional workshop held in Japan in 1982 is presented in four chapters. Chapter 1 explains workshop objectives, introduces participants, and presents a general overview of the agenda. Chapter 2, a presentation of patterns and directions in educational reform, is subdivided into sections on infrastructure, reform implementation, and diffusion. Issues identified include financial problems, paucity of trained research personnel, lack of coordinated research efforts, credibility of research, lack of evaluation techniques, teacher participation, and methods of dissemination. Chapter 3 outlines research strategies related to implementation and evaluation of instructional content and methods. Issues are discussed under the categories of preparation strategies, participation strategies, anticipatory strategies, and evaluation strategies. The final chapter recommends specific actions regarding research, professional training, and strengthening of the role of UNESCO. The bulk of the document consists of four appendices which contain a list of workshop participants, individual papers presented at the workshop, papers prepared by resource persons, and a visit to a secondary school by workshop participants. (LP)