Ms. Jones stared at the stack of biology quizzes and wondered what went wrong. She thought about the lesson plans and wondered what she should have done differently. Ms. Jones is not alone in wondering how to improve student learning and classroom instruction. To improve student achievement, educators must determine what is working and what is not. This article focuses on basic research skills that teachers can utilize to conduct studies in classrooms and schools for the purpose of determining the effectiveness of instructional techniques and curricula. While the emphasis is on quantitative research, the basics of qualitative research are mentioned as well.