"Student Powered" research, defined as a comprehensive reliance on or involvement of students as research staff members in all or most phases of a serious research effort, is discussed. It is suggested that there are several conditions necessary for student powered mail survey questionnaire research projects to be initiated, that there are various possible permutations of the conditions, and that the specific permutations affect: (1) the nature of the research; (2) the methods employed; (3) the problems encountered; (4) the benefit students derive; and (5) the quality of the data. Conditions discussed are project sponsorship or impetus, availability and characteristics of student power, logistic feasibility, and administrative sanction. A comparison of the conditions as they existed at three univeristies (Northwestern, Northeastern Illinois, and the University of Chicago) is made, and the effects of the respective conditions on each of the student powered research projects are reviewed. (Author/MSE)