National Opinion Research Center
Encyclopedia
NORC at the University of Chicago, established in 1941 as the National Opinion Research Center, is one of the largest and most highly respected social research
organizations in the United States. Its corporate headquarters are located on the University of Chicago
campus. It also has offices in Chicago’s downtown Loop
and Washington DC.
for government agencies, non-profit agencies and corporations. Data from these surveys is also frequently analyzed in a wide range of social sciences, especially sociology
. NORC is best known for its large, national surveys, including the General Social Survey
, the Survey of Consumer Finances, and the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, but it also conducts qualitative and quantitative analyses and international projects.
Making Connections Survey
The Making Connections Survey (MCS) is a neighborhood-based, longitudinal and cross-sectional survey funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation (AECF). It seves as an evaluation of a larger AECF-supported initiative and was designed to collect data measuring how neighborhood change affects the well-being of children. The Making Connections Survey was conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago between 2002 and 2011 with residents in ten low-income communities across the United States. The survey was. The final survey dataset includes responses from ruoghly 28,000 interviews at three points in time.
National Immunization Survey
National Survey of Children's Health
National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs
General Social Survey
The General Social Survey is one of NORC's most important surveys. It started in 1972 and monitors social change and the complexity of American society. This survey plays an important role in American sociology
. It is funded by the Sociology Program of the National Science Foundation. After the U.S. Census, it is the second most frequently analyzed source of information for the social sciences in the United States.
Survey of Consumer Finances
The Survey of Consumer Finance is sponsored by the Federal Reserve Board. It collects information about household financial characteristics and behavior. In the United States it is thought to be the best source of information about family finances. There are about 4500 subjects who participate in the survey.
National Longitudinal Survey of Youth
The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth is funded by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It covers questions about economic, social, and academic experiences of the subjects. The survey researches also issues related to youth entry into the work force.
Florida Ballots Project
Re-examined the approximately 180,000 uncounted ballots in the 2000 U.S. Presidential Election.http://www2.norc.org/fl/ NORC was featured in Orwell Rolls in His Grave
.
Oklahoma City sonic boom tests
In 1964, NORC conducted public opinion measurement for the infamous sonic boom tests
over Oklahoma City, which were intended to measure the impact of SSTs
over populated areas. The unfavorable results of these tests were partially responsible for the abandonment of the US SST program.
Social research
Social research refers to research conducted by social scientists. Social research methods may be divided into two broad categories:* Quantitative designs approach social phenomena through quantifiable evidence, and often rely on statistical analysis of many cases to create valid and reliable...
organizations in the United States. Its corporate headquarters are located on the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
campus. It also has offices in Chicago’s downtown Loop
Chicago Loop
The Loop or Chicago Loop is one of 77 officially designated Chicago community areas located in the City of Chicago, Illinois. It is the historic commercial center of downtown Chicago...
and Washington DC.
Research focus
NORC conducts numerous research projects involving opinion survey and other data collection and technology strategies. NORC’s projects are focused in a number of topical areas: society and culture; economics and population; education and child development; health studies; substance abuse; mental health; criminal justice; statistics and methodology; and technology. Within each area, NORC designs and implements surveys and other data collection strategies, conducts advanced statistical and other analysis, provides technical assistance and applies advanced technologies.Known surveys
NORC conducts social researchSocial research
Social research refers to research conducted by social scientists. Social research methods may be divided into two broad categories:* Quantitative designs approach social phenomena through quantifiable evidence, and often rely on statistical analysis of many cases to create valid and reliable...
for government agencies, non-profit agencies and corporations. Data from these surveys is also frequently analyzed in a wide range of social sciences, especially sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
. NORC is best known for its large, national surveys, including the General Social Survey
General Social Survey
The General Social Survey is a sociological survey used to collect data on demographic characteristics and attitudes of residents of the United States. The survey is conducted face-to-face with an in-person interview by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago, of a...
, the Survey of Consumer Finances, and the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, but it also conducts qualitative and quantitative analyses and international projects.
Making Connections Survey
The Making Connections Survey (MCS) is a neighborhood-based, longitudinal and cross-sectional survey funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation (AECF). It seves as an evaluation of a larger AECF-supported initiative and was designed to collect data measuring how neighborhood change affects the well-being of children. The Making Connections Survey was conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago between 2002 and 2011 with residents in ten low-income communities across the United States. The survey was. The final survey dataset includes responses from ruoghly 28,000 interviews at three points in time.
National Immunization Survey
National Survey of Children's Health
National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs
General Social Survey
The General Social Survey is one of NORC's most important surveys. It started in 1972 and monitors social change and the complexity of American society. This survey plays an important role in American sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
. It is funded by the Sociology Program of the National Science Foundation. After the U.S. Census, it is the second most frequently analyzed source of information for the social sciences in the United States.
Survey of Consumer Finances
The Survey of Consumer Finance is sponsored by the Federal Reserve Board. It collects information about household financial characteristics and behavior. In the United States it is thought to be the best source of information about family finances. There are about 4500 subjects who participate in the survey.
National Longitudinal Survey of Youth
The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth is funded by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It covers questions about economic, social, and academic experiences of the subjects. The survey researches also issues related to youth entry into the work force.
Florida Ballots Project
Re-examined the approximately 180,000 uncounted ballots in the 2000 U.S. Presidential Election.http://www2.norc.org/fl/ NORC was featured in Orwell Rolls in His Grave
Orwell Rolls in His Grave
Orwell Rolls in His Grave is a 2003 documentary film written and directed by Robert Kane Pappas. Covered topics include the Telecommunications Act of 1996, concentration of media ownership, political corruption, Federal Communications Commission , the controversy over the US presidential election...
.
Oklahoma City sonic boom tests
In 1964, NORC conducted public opinion measurement for the infamous sonic boom tests
Oklahoma City sonic boom tests
The Oklahoma City sonic boom tests, also known as Operation Bongo II, refer to a controversial experiment in which 1,253 sonic booms were carried out over Oklahoma City, Oklahoma over a period of six months in 1964...
over Oklahoma City, which were intended to measure the impact of SSTs
Supersonic transport
A supersonic transport is a civilian supersonic aircraft designed to transport passengers at speeds greater than the speed of sound. The only SSTs to see regular service to date have been Concorde and the Tupolev Tu-144. The last passenger flight of the Tu-144 was in June 1978 with its last ever...
over populated areas. The unfavorable results of these tests were partially responsible for the abandonment of the US SST program.