This study examined institutional researchers' perceptions regarding their effectiveness in influencing institutional policy changes, the factors that make institutional researchers effective in the policy arena, and researchers perspectives regarding job-related rewards; challenges encountered in seeking to establish influential roles in decision making; and strategies utilized for coping with these challenges. Data was based on a mailed survey sent to 304 institutional researchers in the Northeast; 221 responses were received. Chi-square analysis examined variations in perceived policy effectiveness by gender, current professional position, level of education, and type of institution. Correlation and t-tests were used to investigate relationships between perceived effectiveness in policy and job rewards, job challenges, leadership experience, desire for enhanced skills, and mentor experience. Discriminant analysis identified predictors of perceived effectiveness in policy. The study confirms results of previous research which indicate that level of education has a significant impact on policy effectiveness; institutional researchers with doctorates reported significantly more often that their work had achieved institutional changes in programs or policies. Institutional researchers who include policy recommendations with their reports; conduct follow-up studies on the impact of their work, and whose work is used in executive decision making perceive themselves to be more effective in influencing policy. (CH)