NORC, known since its founding in 1941 as the National Opinion Research Center, pursues objective research that serves the public interest. NORC has offices on the University of Chicago campus in Chicago’s downtown Loop, and in Bethesda, MD, and also has a field staff that operates nationwide. NORC’s clients include government agencies, educational institutions, foundations, other nonprofit organizations, and private corporations. Their projects are local, regional, national, and international in scope.
NORC creates value for its clients by developing effective, innovative solutions that combine state-of-the-art technology with high-quality social science research in the public interest. Their researchers conduct rigorous scientific research that creates knowledge, which in turn enables societies to improve.
NORC remains a leader in the development of survey and other data collection methodologies, applying new and time-tested strategies to the problems facing their world and using advanced statistical and other analytical techniques to interpret social science data.
Their project work is interdisciplinary, with strong staff cooperation across substantive and operational areas and collaboration with the University of Chicago’s world-renowned faculty. And NORC is an equal opportunity employer, committed to the personal and professional development of everyone on their staff.
CAPABILITIES
Study Design
Expertise in the full spectrum of public interest social science research development—including experimental and evaluation designs—from the development of research questions through literature review and assessment of existing and potential data sources, project design, sampling strategies, selection of data collection tools and approaches, validation and quality control, and data analysis.
Since its founding, NORC has been a critical research resource for college and university faculty, serving as a research design and data collection partner for scholars in a wide range of disciplines.
Data Collection
NORC has a long history of conducting high quality data collection to support important social science research endeavors. Since the design and operations of a research study are crucial to reliability, validity, and credibility, the data collection team works closely with statisticians and methodologists, and quality assurance specialists to develop high quality data collection activities.
Analysis
NORC researchers are skilled in conducting complex data analyses for evaluation and policy research in the areas of education, health, substance abuse, criminal justice and economics. NORC develops high quality reports that present methods and results and which discuss important policy implications. NORC often collaborates with clients to develop materials that translate research results into meaningful messages for the full spectrum of stakeholders.
Technical Assistance
NORC is practiced at providing technical assistance to governments and organizations regarding the design of research and the appropriate use of research findings.
Their program of mentoring of think tanks is a good example of the kind of technical assistance that NORC is able to offer clients around the world.
Information Technology
NORC has a rich history providing innovative technology solutions for social science research. From early use of the internet to promote collaborative online research to innovative uses of mobile technologies to conduct computer-assisted in-person interviewing, the past several decades have seen NORC pioneer many critical advances in the use of technology for survey research.
Today, technology continues to play a critical role in research and policy and NORC continues to lead the way in using technology to further research and policy goals. Their information technology program provides top-tier technology solutions to their clients, and they believe that nobody better understands the unique technology dimensions of policy and research or has a staff better-equipped to deliver cutting-edge information technology solutions in these areas.
Statistics and Methodology
NORC statisticians and methodologists have pioneered innovations in all aspects of survey research, from understanding cognitive processes underlying respondents' reactions to surveys, to rigorous, efficient methods for conducting surveys, to advanced techniques for analyzing and interpreting survey data.
FOCUS AREAS
Arts and Humanities
NORC's work in the area of arts and humanities includes the measurement of participation and interest in a variety of cultural activities and the establishment of reliable indicators to facilitate analysis.
Criminal Justice
Their focus on criminal justice includes the study of the operations and clientele of law enforcement and criminal justice programs.
Education
Since its first days of operation, NORC has worked to improve the public's and government's understanding of issues related to education.
Energy & Environment
NORC has emerged as a leader in conducting high-quality survey research related to energy and environmental concerns, creating a foundation for clients to make more informed, accurate policy decisions with respect to these crucial issues.
Finances
NORC's experience collecting and analyzing financial data is extensive. It includes the use of data from both households and businesses.
Health
NORC research on issues related to health is conducted with the goal of informing the public and policy makers and improving Americans' quality of life.
International
NORC's international studies focus on issues outside the United States.
Labor and Employment
Labor research at NORC encompasses a broad range of studies on work experience, education and training, consumption, and the relationships between education, age, experience, worker satisfaction, and success.
Organizations
The study of organizations is fundamental to studying social behavior.
Security
NORC researches issues related to security with the goal of informing the public and policy makers and improving Americans' security and quality of life.
Special Populations
Reaching special populations is the essence of survey and analytical work at NORC.
Society and Culture
NORC has studied many areas of American society, among them arts and humanities, religion, social indicators, and public opinion on a wide range of topics.
Substance Abuse
Their focus in this area involves the study of treatment, prevention, and treatment outcomes as they relate to substance abuse and addiction.
Technology
NORC creates unique value for its clients by developing effective, innovative solutions at the nexus of information technology and public interest research.
