Most education reporters from time to time will tread into the world of education research, whether to gauge charter school achievement, the impact of teacher quality, or the effects of a reading program, among myriad possibilities. But making sense of the research, with its often-impenetrable prose, dizzying figures, and mathematical formulas, can be daunting. Despite the challenge, gaining some basic skills and knowledge in navigating research makes for stronger journalism. Research in education serves a wide variety of functions. It can be used to assess the likelihood that a new policy or practice will be effective, raise questions about possible unintended side effects of such changes, or shed light on students' and teachers' behaviors. Research can also muddle debates--and sometimes unfairly cast aspersions--on well-intended strategies for improvement. The trick for education reporters is to understand when research findings are trustworthy and when they are not. Reporters need to know how to assess research findings, where to find credible research, and what the limitations and red flags are in the studies they encounter.