THE AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTIONS OF AN INTERNSHIP IN SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY RECOUNTS THE LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE PRINCIPAL RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT OF THE INTERNSHIP--THE IMPACT OF ILLINOIS' NEW DETERMINATE SENTENCING LAW. THE REPORT IS INTENDED FOR USE BY THE CRIMINAL SENTENCING COMMISSION. A MAJOR ACTIVITY ASSOCIATED WITH THE RESEARCH WAS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A COMMUNICATION NETWORK AMONG RESEARCHERS IN OTHER STATES WHO ARE STUDYING DETERMINATE SENTENCING. THE RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT CONSUMED 25 PERCENT OF THE INTERNSHIP TIME. THE REMAINING TIME WAS SPENT HANDLING INFORMATION REQUESTS FROM STUDENTS, REVIEWING RESEARCH ABOUT DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS DATA, ESTABLISHING RESEARCH POLICY, PROVIDING DATA FROM THE DETERMINATE SENTENCING RESEARCH, DEVELOPING DATA FOR SPECIAL TASK FORCES AND COMMITTEES, AND TREATING SPECIAL PROJECTS. THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN APPLIED AND ACADEMIC RESEARCH ARE EXPLAINED AS THE TIME REQUIREMENTS OF APPLIED RESEARCH, BASED ON THE TIME FRAMES OF THE POLICY DECISIONMAKING WHICH USES THE RESEARCH; THE APPLICABILITY OF THE RESEARCH TO POLICY ISSUES; AND THE PRESENTATION OF REPORTS IN A CONCISE FORM THAT SPEAKS TO THE PRACTICAL ISSUES OF POLICY. CREDIBILITY IN RESEARCH WAS FOUND TO BE PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT IF RESEARCH STAFFS ARE TO HAVE AN IMPACT UPON POLICY DECISIONMAKING. INSIGHTS ARE PROVIDED FROM THE INTERN'S OBSERVATION OF A REORGANIZATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, AND QUALITIES OF A GOOD INTERNSHIP SUPERVISOR ARE CONSIDERED.