This paper describes a methodology for helping institutional research assess its roles and its effectiveness in supporting decision-making at all institutional levels. The paper discusses how to meet this goal by planning, doing, checking, and acting. Planning requires the understanding of the roles of the data custodian, the broker, and the information user. Doing involves performing these roles through five sequential steps. Checking requires understanding and overcoming barriers to effectiveness. Acting involves using strategies to integrate and interpret information in order to enhance its value to the institution. Individual sections of the paper define the term institutional research, establish the framework of the model, and discuss management of the various institutional research functions. Recommendations and suggestions for overcoming barriers are discussed. A table listing barriers to effective institutional research is appended. (Contains 15 references.) (CH)