The assembling of the quantitative and qualitative information for use in periodic or ad hoc reviews of programs or organization units illustrates the form of institutional research having characteristics of evaluation. Information on cost and productivity underlies judgements about efficiency. Information on other characteristics of programs and units and on outcomes leads to judgements about effectiveness or quality. Information on program purposes, on programs offered by other institutions, on the labor market and on potential demand produce judgements about the need for academic programs. Judgements of these types lead to decisions about program initiation, continuation, and improvement.
Policy analysis is a phrase that applies to some forms of institutional research.
Deliberations on matters of policy are often, or often should be, accompanied by analysis and that analysis is institutional research. For example deliberations on admissions policies may require analysis of the impacts of policy changes on different segments of the potential student population as well as the size and composition of the student body. Loyola University has a highly decentralized institutional research function. In addition to an Office of Institutional Research with a full-time director, associate director, and research associate, institutional research is carried on in every division, college, and department of the university. The Office of Institutional Research, in addition to providing information to the university community, also provides assistance and consulting services to others involved in the institutional effectiveness and institutional research functions in order to improve these functions.