This document contains descriptions of the methods used by three government agencies (National Institute of Mental Health, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Office of Economic Opportunity) in managing practice-oriented research. Each agency is treated separately, with a presentation of the steps that its managers and researchers actually take in managing research activities. The descriptions were obtained by interviewing managers and other staff personnel in these agencies and interpreting their responses. The document is divided into an introduction and three sections for the three agencies. In the Department of Agriculture section, the main discussion centers on Cooperative Research Service paradigms. The National Institute of Health section focuses on the activities of applied research, coordinating centers, funded centers, and research and development. The shorter section on the Office of Economic Opportunity consists of an overview, summary, and description of activities. (JA)