This monograph examines educational research and some of the myths surrounding it. The results of educational research strongly influence education. Much research, past and present, is biased. It is necessary to understand that race and sex bias can affect research, to understand how to determine whether bias is present, and to know how to minimize its effects. To demystify research, people need to gain familiarity with research terms and methods and its strengths and weaknesses, and they need to use their understanding to examine many of the myths that exist about research. The myth that research and researchers are always objective is the most difficult one to refute, but examples of bias are not hard to find. It is not difficult to find bias in historical educational research, but the bias of today tends to be more subtle. Two areas in which bias has strongly influenced research are student interracial interaction and sex differences in mathematics ability. Guidelines are provided for determining bias in research, reducing the negative effects of bias, and making research more valuable to policymakers and practitioners. Suggestions are also offered for improving research by viewing it more critically. An appendix, "A Beginner's Guide to Educational Research," introduces the basics. A 104-item list of references is included. (SLD)