A vice president of NCJFCJ explains how the committee was formed in 1979 and describes its goals, which include encouraging and facilitating research which examines the strengths and weaknesses of the American juvenile justice system, providing for education to allow for increased judge participation in the development of effectiveness research projects, and defining juvenile justice system goals which may be used in measuring effectiveness. The committee's juvenile court effectiveness project which brings together judges, practitioners, and researchers to develop ideas for cooperative research efforts is also described. A director of research for the National Center for Juvenile Justice reviews obstacles to effectiveness research. Although lack of time, energy, and money are seen as significant barriers, special attention is given to the problems of determining methods for measuring effectiveness and of deciding on what should be measured. A table of contents is included.