This guide describes activities, methods, and materials which can be used in conducting a beginning-level social-science research project. Designed for secondary and college students as a laboratory component of a social studies or social science course, it provides ideas for firsthand experience in the methods used by social scientists for their research. The text is divided into three sections. The first section provides an overview of social science research methods and includes information about deciding what to investigate, formulating hypotheses, selecting a method, developing a research design, collecting data, testing ideas, and writing a report on the research. The second section provides a detailed account of two studies which are the work of social scientists. One of the studies is an experiment in understanding dating and the other is a survey of student power in innovative high schools. The third section provides the reader with an opportunity to engage in activities that are typical of social science research and includes information on survey and observational activities, experiments, development of hypotheses, testing of hypotheses, development of research designs, and formulation of questions. References are included in the document. (Author/DB)