Many systems which are sensitive to noise exhibit dynamical features from both the underlying deterministic behavior and the stochastic elements. Then the stochastic effects are obscured in this mix of dynamics. Several different methods

have recently been applied to separate the "deterministic" and "stochastic" dynamics. These approaches lead to simplified approximate models which can be analyzed or simulated efficiently, providing useful measures of the noise sensitivity. The methods combine projection methods and the identification of important scaling relationships to exploit features common to these systems, for example, presence of multiple time scales, limited regions of strong noise-sensitivity, and resonances. These approaches will be outlined in the context of two specific problems- metastable interface dynamics and stochastic delay-differential equations. Extensions to other problems will also be discussed.