The proceedings of a July 1989 conference of directors of research grants and research-based contracts funded by the Division of Innovation and Development of the Office of Special Education Programs are presented. The meeting featured a combination of general sessions, small-group discussions on research issues and content areas, and a panel discussion on individual differences in special education. In a speech titled "Prevention, Intervention, and Understanding of Conduct Problems of Children and Adolescents," John Reid reviews trends in 20 years of research into antisocial child behavior at the Oregon Social Learning Center in Eugene. In "Understanding and Selecting Designs for Research in Naturally-Occurring Situations," Evelyn Jacob provides a rationale for focusing on the goals and assumptions of research designs, explores assumptions and goals of alternative research designs, and offers guidelines for choosing among alternatives. Lynn Fuchs, in an introduction to a panel discussion, examines "The Importance of Individual Differences to Special Education Effectiveness." Other panel presentations include: "Individual Differences and the Form and Function of Instruction" (Alan Hofmeister); "Aptitude-Treatment Interactions: Bad Rap or Bad Idea?" (Deborah Speece); and "Individual Differences and the Individual Difference: The Essential Difference of Special Education" (Stanley Deno). Also included is the conference agenda. About 165 references are cited. (DB)