This account of efforts to reconstruct educational research in China, guided by Marxist principles and reflective of a national policy of building a "socialist spiritual civilization," presents the major requirements of that endeavor. Educational sciences are to be guided by four understandings: correct theories; realistic policies; improved teaching methods; and necessary rules and regulations. In addition, China's research on educational sciences will abide by the following guidelines: orientation toward modernization, to the outside world, and to the future; adherence to the principle of integrating theory and practice; correct handling of relationships between national construction and education, between macro- and micro-research, between basic and applied sciences, between research and experimentation, and between criticism and appreciation of inheritance; and establishment of a "good style of learning" within the educational research community. China's educational research community has set for itself as the following major task goals during the Seventh Five-Year Plan period, to engage in research on: (1) general educational guidelines and major educational theories; (2) development strategy; (3) reforms of education; (4) ethics education; (5) comparative education; (6) evaluation and management; and (7) legislation. It is acknowledged that, in order to reach these goals, major efforts in coordination and funding are needed. (MDE)