This study investigated the role and scope of institutional research in regionally accredited, private colleges with a headcount enrollment of less than 3000 students located in the southeastern United States. The study queried 252 individuals (155 responses) who were primarily responsible for institutional research about the activities and role of the director on institutional research. Major conclusions included the following: (1) most small, private colleges lacked an effective institutional research operation and were therefore unprepared for accreditation evaluation; (2) the role of director of institutional research needed definition; (3) institutional research in these colleges received inadequate institutional commitment and support; and (4) institutional research activities were primarily dispersed, disjointed, and characterized by report generation for external organizations. Analysis of the findings suggested a model institutional research operation for small, private colleges with components covering: the role and characteristics of the director of institutional research; the organizational location, staffing, and funding of the office of institutional research; institutional research activities supporting institutional accreditation; and institutional culture and context of the institutional research function. Contains 22 references. (GLR)