Institutional research and the role of information systems are examined and three types of information provided by institutional research offices are discussed: institutional studies, management analyses, and periodic management reports. The varying characteristics of research offices are described and the role of the institutional research office in the decision-making process is examined. It is noted that increasingly the large, computerized information systems are the principal source for information and dominate administrative data processing. Specific functions of these systems are discussed and it is emphasized that integrated information systems may be the most useful for higher education institutions. Various impacts of information systems on institutional research are also reviewed, including issues of data quality, control of the system, and the degree of system integration. It is suggested that effective utilization of information systems centers on communication between processors and analysts. The need for institutional information systems to adapt to the rapidly changing climate of academe is emphasized. The role of on-line data base systems is discussed and the impact of state and national information systems is examined. It is concluded that for colleges and universities the institutional research office should become the planning system by maintaining an accurate, accessible, and integrated data base. (SF)