Star formation is one of the fundamental processes of

astrophysics. Yet in spite of much progress in recent years,

many of the elements of the physics governing star formation remain uncertain,

including the role played by magnetic fields. Depending on their strengths, magnetic fields may strongly affect the formation and evolution of dense molecular clouds from which stars form, and appear to be essential in transferring angular momentum outward so that protostars and planets may form. This talk will describe the observational techniques that are available to study the role of magnetic fields in star formation regions, review the current state of the observational results, and briefly discuss possible future developments.