The study examined the quality of educational research published in the journals, with a focus on the following: (1) an evaluation of the quality of contemporary published research from the standpoint of sound research conduct and reporting as judged by experts, and (2) an examination of the relationship between assigned quality ratings and selected characteristics of research articles and participation experts. A stratified random sample of the 1971 educational research articles was selected and a sample of judges to rate the articles was selected via the membership directory of American Educational Research Association (AERA). The results of the study provide consumers of research with needed information regarding the soundness of the research whose findings influence present-day decision making. (Author)