This document is intended as a resource guide for institutional researchers, based on the experience of the Johnson County Community College (Kansas) Institutional Research Office. It includes pragmatic suggestions concerning research design and research problems which are incorporated into discussions of research questions, reporting data, pitfalls in the use of statistics, and the uses of population sampling. Several hypothetical cases are used to illustrate each of the points made in the discussion. Numerous sources of information--general, salary and employment, statistical packages, demographic, Title IX and Civil Rights compliance, and directory-type information--are listed. The need for an adequate, accurate institutional data base concerning students, community, and educational services is explained and sample tabular data are presented to indicate the minimum types of information that should be included in an institution's data base. Ten steps are listed which show how institutional research can help in seeking funds to expand or improve educational services as part of a resource development program. An annotated bibliography of Johnson County Community College research studies concludes the paper. (JDS)