The most legitimate role that the independent research can play in a collaborative research effort in the schools is that of intermediary or broker. Researchers need to establish good relations with school administrative staff and teachers, allaying their mistrust of outside researchers. Research should be carefully designed to relate as directly as possible to the concerns of teachers and administrators, and an effective communication system among all parties involved should be established. Although it is difficult to provide educators with immediate feedback from research, effort must be made to convey as quickly as possible relevant research results to teachers and administrators. The researcher must realize that research must address the needs of, and be directed toward, two distinct audiences: researchers (and funding agency personnel) and classroom teachers, principals, and other administrators. Researchers must be careful to use clear, simple language free of educational jargon when communicating research questions, techniques, and results. This paper is one contribution to the symposium, "A Federal Institute, A University R&D Center, and a School District Join Forces: The Processes and the Problems." (Author/DS)