Papers from a forum sponsored by the Association for Institutional Research address the role problems of institutional researchers and the special position of institutional research in institutions of higher education and the issues that lead to conflict between institutional research, data gathering activities, and the faculty. In "Dilemmas in Institutional Research," Martin Trow explores the function and characteristics of the data gathered by institutional researchers, how it is used and how it affects relationships between and among the various component bodies in higher education. In "The Faculty and Institutional Research--Perspectives from a Private College," Jack E. Rossmann provides insights into the attitudes toward institutional research at a small private college. In"Faculty Perceptions of the Institutional Research Function: What's a Nice Person Like You Doing in a Place Like This?," Ann Marie Haase and Warren Gulko report on a study that gives descriptive information on faculty perceptions of institutional research. In "Academicians and Analysts: Allies or Antagonists?," Joe L. Saupe identifies four potential sources of conflict between academicians and analysts and provides 10 suggestions on how to reduce the antagonism between faculty members and institutional researchers. (SW)