In 1981, the developers of a school-based change effort engaged researchers to conduct an evaluation study employing qualitative methodology that would provide the developers with information that could be used to improve the program. Resource constraints, short timelines, and the developers' preference for useable information encouraged researchers to adopt a research approach that emphasized quick turnaround and client-centered feedback strategies and that also utilized developers in data gathering and analysis activities. This paper describes the evaluation study in more detail with special emphasis on the issues raised by using a research strategy in which developers participate in design formulation, data collection, and analysis. It outlines a number of benefits such as accelerating data use by clients, broadening of the data base, increasing the influence of the data, and reducing study costs. And it discusses several limitations of such a strategy, including: cooptation of researchers or developers; threats to the integrity and objectivity of research information, and reductions in the quality of the research activities and data. (Author/LMO)