SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE IS BASED ON THE OBSERVATION OF EVENTS. RESEARCH IS SYSTEMATIC OBSERVATION WITH THE GOAL OF COLLECTING DATA. THE SUM OF OBSERVATIONS PROVIDES DATA FROM WHICH GUIDELINES OR LAWS CAN BE FORMULATED. WHAT ENDS UP AS A LAW STARTS WITH A HYPOTHESIS THAT IS LATER CONFIRMED BY RESEARCH DATA. HYPOTHESIS TESTING IS ONLY AS GOOD AS THE QUALITY OF COLLECTED DATA. CORRECTIONAL MANGERS AND LEGISLATORS, IN THEIR ROLES AS DECISIONMAKERS, SEEK TO CALCULATE THE PROBABILITY OF A PROGRAM'S SUCCESS. EFFECTIVE LEGISLATORS AND THEIR AIDES ATTEMPT TO REDUCE UNFORESEEN FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE PROGRAM SUCCESS. INFORMATION FROM RESEARCH MUST BE WELL-SUITED TO THE LEGISLATOR'S NEEDS SINCE IT LEADS TO BETTER PREDICTION AND CONTROL, I.E., LEGISLATORS BENEFIT FROM CLEARLY STATED RESEARCH CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. RESEARCHERS MUST ALSO BE SENSITIVE TO THE REALITIES OF OPERATING CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS. IF RESEARCH IS BUILT INTO THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM AS A STANDARD COMPONENT, IT CAN PROVIDE USEFUL INFORMATION AT ALL DECISIONMAKING LEVELS. RESEARCH CAN ALSO BE USED TO MAXIMIZE JOB SATISFACTION FOR CORRECTIONAL PERSONNEL AND TO DEVELOP PROGRAMS FOR INMATES THAT MAKE THEM PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY. REFERENCES ARE CITED. (DEP)