This paper deals with the lack of attention to negative findings that has been found in cooperative education research and with issues that have been ignored by work integrated learning researchers. A review of the literature, an informal survey, and instances from the writer's experience provided many examples of negative results and under-reported findings. An example of how negative or unexpected results might be incorporated into research and practice is presented. It is argued that a failure to consider the work or job component of WIL programs may be responsible for this neglect of issues and negative results.