A study explored whether public relations practitioners in one-way environments (press agentry/publicity and public information) and in two-way environments (asymmetric and symmetric) have different general attitudes toward research and whether they use social science techniques differently. A mail survey of 200 randomly chosen public relations persons (of whom 111 responded for a return rate of 56%) examined the extent to which they understand, use, and conduct research; the extent to which they use applied versus theoretical research; and the type of environment in which they work. Results indicated that practitioners in one-way environments have less favorable attitudes toward research techniques than do those in two-way environments, and that they work in public relations departments which are less likely to use theoretical research to solve immediate problems or in long-term planning. (Three tables of data and 11 notes are included.) (SR)