National Opinion Research Center at the University of ChicagoNational Opinion Research Center at the University of ChicagoNORC_1143e554-1d2d-4894-b552-2d4069532f43To conduct high quality social science research in the public interest._afb4d89d-c09f-42c3-bd62-7a4da44baab0ExcellenceWe are leaders in social science research. We strive to achieve excellence in every facet of our work by providing advanced solutions for collecting, analyzing and sharing data. We meet or exceed our clients’ expectations for quality, achieving an appropriate balance of time, budget and scope. Collaboration and Mutual RespectWe build long-term relationships through collaboration and mutual respect. We respect the rights and well-being of our study participants. We build productive teams with our clients and colleagues, communicating in an open, honest and constructive manner. We advance the field of social science by freely exchanging ideas with the larger research community. We nurture and capitalize on the complementary strengths of NORC and the University of Chicago.Employee PotentialWe recognize that NORC employees are our greatest asset. We hire and retain a diverse group of talented individuals. We have a work environment that fosters teamwork, encourages creativity, and provides equitable opportunities for growth and development.StewardshipWe are responsible for effective use of the assets entrusted to us by our clients, respondents, and trustees. We deliver data and analyses that ensure the integrity of our research and serve the public interest. We exercise fiscal prudence to ensure the long-term viability of the organization.Arts and Humanities Measure participation and interest in a variety of cultural activities and the establish reliable indicators to facilitate analysis._34f3a54e-b2b5-449c-9b3a-6e04e34120551_2982b377-bb76-406d-b4f0-0d4ae2d3a955NORC'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. NORC also has used innovative mapping technology (GIS) to identify patterns and trends.Criminal JusticeStudy of the operations and clientele of law enforcement and criminal justice programs_2dfb1c02-48af-4e83-8d5f-d54ef88292672Our focus on criminal justice includes the study of the operations and clientele of law enforcement and criminal justice programs. NORC staff members have substantive expertise in topics such as:Homeland security Death penalty Violence against women Homicide and Violent Crime Human trafficking Of special note is NORC's record of conducting surveys of correctional institutions and facilities; law enforcement agencies; and its ground breaking data collection methods used for interviewing incarcerated respondents on sensitive topics where confidentiality is of heightened importance.EducationWork to improve the public's and government's understanding of issues related to education_be1fd14f-ad1a-4004-a3e3-9db0966699433Since its first days of operation, NORC has worked to improve the public's and government's understanding of issues related to education.Some of the first rigorous scientific evaluations of students and their academic aspirations were conducted in the late 1950's and early 1960's. Scholar James S. Coleman and former NORC director Peter H. Rossi launched the Study of High School Climates, which included interviews of 8,500 college-bound seniors, along with their parents and teachers, and a re-interview of the students during their first year in college.This approach allowed NORC to develop several large-scale panel surveys for the U.S. Department of Education, the most well-known of which are High School and Beyond (HS&B), the National Longitudinal Study of the High School Class of 1972 (NLS-72), and the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 (NELS:88). These studies provided irreplaceable information on the performance and experiences, hopes and plans of American young people and the hopes and plans their parents had for them. NELS:88 also examined the outcomes and experiences of students who drop out of high school and the study provided policy makers with data critical in designing interventions to reduce the dropout rate. NORC later helped evaluate the impact of some of those programs, including Head Start.NORC also has a strong record conducting more narrowly focused education research, such as studies of particular school districts and programs, parochial education, the experiences of minority students, and students in specialized programs. In addition to these areas, NORC has contributed to the field of educational testing and ways to measure the quality of reading, mathematics and science instruction provided to secondary school students.Today's education research builds on the strong foundation these innovative studies of the past provided. To learn more about current education projects, click on the name of a study in the right hand column.Energy and Environment Conduct 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_6be50fe4-c4c8-4f59-bc53-1fd5a52d97854NORC 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.In the area of energy, NORC has worked most recently with the Energy Information Administration (EIA) to conduct two national surveys of energy consumption: the Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS) in 2005 and the Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS), scheduled to begin data collection in late 2007. Both of these surveys are critically important to informing energy policy as each is the only reliable source of statistics at the national level for energy consumption in these building types. In the area of environmental effects, NORC is participating in the National Children's Study, which is the largest effort of its kind ever undertaken. Previous environmental work includes supporting the mission of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry and conducting a twin study for the National Institute of Mental Health to disentangle genetic from environmental factors affecting mental health.Finances Collect and analyze financial data is extensive, including data from both households and businesses_ccaf1bb9-387c-44dc-bc25-b5c9d74db59b5NORC's experience collecting and analyzing financial data is extensive. It includes the use of data from both households and businesses.Illustrative projects include:Development of a small area estimation system for the Illinois Department of Employment Security Conduct of the Survey of Small Business Finances in 2000 and 2003 Feasibility testing for the BLS's Consumer Expenditure Diary SurveyHealthConduct research on issues related to health with the goal of informing the public and policy makers and improving Americans' quality of life_7940b0ee-7a8d-4a80-b667-3fd07eed083e6NORC research on issues related to health is conducted with the goal of informing the public and policy makers and improving Americans' quality of life. Two important cancer studies conducted in the 1940s marked NORC's entry into the field of health-related studies. One included a national sample of physicians; the other a survey of adults' knowledge of cancer and cancer care. In the 1980s, separate studies assessed the effectiveness of a clinical oncology program and the treatment of cancer among older women. Today, NORC's health research includes national and local surveys, policy and program analyses, and new initiatives such as the adoption of health information technology. Health-related work is conducted in several departments and on such diverse topics as: U.S. health care policy, including Medicare and Medicaid programs Health disparities among special populations Public health issues Global health issues Environmental hazards and workplace toxinsInternationalStudy issues outside the United States_1047f718-9ed6-476e-97c2-10f87c58512b7NORC's international studies focus on issues outside the United States.NORC's interest and involvement in international research began soon after its establishment in 1941, when founder Harry Field made efforts to convince the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to include a survey division. In the 1960's, NORC led a five-nation study of public attitudes toward various political systems, and a national study of Canadian youth on their attitudes toward biculturalism and bilingualism. Two decades later, NORC worked with researchers in Japan and the Soviet Union to create comparability between variables used in surveys abroad to those used in the U.S. NORC's participation in the International Social Survey Program (ISSP), beginning in 1985, continued the move toward the fielding of identical questions in different nations to provide more accurate cross-national comparisons. Today, NORC's international work includes technical assistance, surveys, program evaluation and impact analyses, and other kinds of analytical work. In addition, NORC provides assistance to developing think tanks throughout the world. Download our Think Tank Mentoring Brochure (73K). NORC observes and complies with domestic and international standards on quality and ethics in conducting its research.Labor and Employment Conduct a broad range of studies on work experience, education and training, consumption, and the relationships between education, age, experience, worker satisfaction, and success_617a7021-2b76-4801-96d7-cec897cc24138Labor 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.As the institutional home of the Society of Labor Economists and the Journal of Labor Economics, the study of labor is a central component of NORC's capacities. For example, some of the most prominent labor economics datasets are housed in the Economics, Labor and Population Department: these include the two National Longitudinal Surveys of Youth, the 1979 and 1997 cohorts (NLSY79 and NLSY97). Each has involved national probability samples with over-samples of minority populations.The NLSY79 also includes the derivative surveys, the Children of the NLSY79 and the Young Adult Survey. The former involves administering cognitive assessments to the children of the female NLSY79 respondents. The response rate on the most recent survey of the 1997 cohort was 83%, and the response rate on the most recent survey of the 1979 cohort was 80%. NORC also collects one of the best sources of information about family finances in the United States, the Survey of Consumer Finances. Sponsored by the Federal Reserve Board, this triennial survey collects information concerning household financial characteristics and behavior. Data from this study inform a wide variety of economic policy decisions across the government, and they also serve as a basis for longer-term research on the economic state of the American family. The survey collects information from approximately 4,500 respondents. NORC conducted this survey for the fifth time in 2004, and is currently engaged in the 2007 data collection. Many of NORC's other projects examine the labor market outcomes of individuals. For example, in work for the Department of Labor, NORC staff used NLS79 data to examine the labor market outcomes of recently discharged young veterans at one, 13, 26 and 39 weeks after their exit from the military. That portion of the project was completed in mid-November 2006. In the spring of 2007, a second analytical report will describe and analyze the dynamics of labor market outcomes for veterans relative to their civilian counterparts. A similar analysis for the Department of Defense used NLS79 data to compare the labor market outcomes of recent military retirees and their spouses with those of civilians. In another example, NORC collects data to evaluate selected programs funded through the John Chafee Foster Care Independence Program. This examines the impact of the Independent Living Programs on outcomes such as educational attainment, employment rates and stability, interpersonal and relationship skills, non-marital pregnancy and births, and delinquency and crime rates. OrganizationsStudy organizations as fundamental to the study of social behavior_415939ca-caa0-4a3f-b4e0-35f2a477615f9The study of organizations is fundamental to studying social behavior. NORC's experience with organizations covers a variety of enterprise types and a variety of data collection modes. For example, the U.S. National Organization Study 2 (NOS2), an omnibus survey sponsored by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), collected detailed information from workplaces about setting, size, industry, and sector. Data were also collected about health benefits and views of health policy, mental health coverage and perceptions, performance-contingent compensation, employee ownership, violence prevention, and safety. The sample of business organizations was generated by asking for names of employers from respondents to the 2002 General Social Survey (GSS). This allowed researchers to link employer data with the employee data obtained from the GSS interview. Data were collected during a 45-minute interview conducted by telephone. In addition, the Survey of Small Business Finances (SSBF), sponsored by the Federal Reserve Board, was conducted twice by NORC. This was a telephone survey of a nationally-representative sample of 4000 small businesses (fewer than 500 employees) to collect information about their financial relationships, credit experiences, lending terms and conditions, income and balance sheet information, and the location and types of financial institutions they use, as well as firm characteristics. NORC revised and programmed the CATI questionnaire, designed and selected the sample, pre-tested, and then screened businesses for sample selection. Business owners were interviewed via telephone. Upon completion of data collection, NORC computed weights and delivered the data along with a methodology report.NORC staff have also been involved in a variety of projects using matched employer employee data to examine businesses and their workers. One example is the Conference on the Analysis on Firms and Employees (CAFÉ2006) which will result in both an NBER/University of Chicago Press book and a special issue of Labour Economics.Special Populations Reach special populations_10b227ac-b2fa-484a-8184-ad9f97b7ead210Reaching special populations is the essence of survey and analytical work at NORC. Examples of some special populations we have worked with include:ChildrenNORC has a strong interest in and record of research related to children, including studies assessing the effects of pre-school programs, looking at the effects neighborhoods have on disadvantaged children, studying the prevalence of smoking in high schools, and measuring vaccination rates among young children. Disabled PeopleNORC studies of people with disabilities include work related injuries, environmental exposure disabilities, and people receiving Social Security Disability Income.ElderlyThrough its affiliation with the Center on Demography and Economics of Aging at the University of Chicago, NORC has contributed to a variety of projects studying the topic, including:Ethnic MinoritiesMany of the studies NORC conducts include an analysis of demographic factors such as race and ethnicity. Some studies have focused on eliminating disparities between racial and ethnic groups that affect key life outcomes such as health and educational attainment, while other studies have followed trends in inter-group relations. A third kind of study has examined the disparity in outcomes through the criminal justice system.Immigrants and RefugeesDuring its history, NORC has made significant contributions to the development of knowledge about immigrants and refugees and their experiences. Early in the decade, NORC conducted the largest national survey of legal immigrants ever fielded in this country. PrisonersNORC has applied its expert knowledge of data collection and survey technologies to the topic of criminal justice. Its national field staff has experience interviewing the incarcerated population while safeguarding respondent confidentiality.StudentsNORC research on students includes educational outcomes for students as well as the assessment of programs designed to improve those outcomes. Veterans and Military PersonnelNORC staff have examined the earnings and employment outcomes of recently discharged veterans for the Veterans Employment and Training Service at the Department of Labor. They have also studied the labor market outcomes for retired military personnel for the Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation conducted by the Department of Defense.Society and CultureStudy many areas of American society, among them arts and humanities, religion, social indicators, and public opinion on a wide range of topics_ae6fec31-7bc4-4268-a57b-14c8a7d7fef211NORC has studied many areas of American society, among them arts and humanities, religion, social indicators, and public opinion on a wide range of topics. Public Opinion: GunsAltruismNational PrideVoter Attitudes and BehaviorIntergroup RelationsMarriageHappinessReligion: Religious affiliation by denominationAttendance at religious servicesAttitudes about various aspects of religionReligous toleranceBelief in GodBelief in an afterlifeSpiritual transformationsPrayingSubstance Abuse and Addiction Study treatment, prevention, and treatment outcomes as they relate to substance abuse and addiction_dd4bec80-8d51-42fc-8587-b012d315643512Our focus in this area involves the study of treatment, prevention, and treatment outcomes as they relate to substance abuse and addiction.NORC has a rich history of conducting research on a range of issues related to substance abuse, including:Establishment of performance measures for and program evaluation of treatment and prevention programs Large-scale studies of treatment outcomes Dynamics and characteristics of drug markets and their relationship to public health and public safety Gambling policy and behavior Public attitudes, stereotypes, and policy views about substance abuseTechnology Create unique value for clients by developing effective, innovative solutions at the nexus of information technology and public interest research_4c23a11a-549f-45e2-bdc1-7f7a8d7de2a313NORC creates unique value for its clients by developing effective, innovative solutions at the nexus of information technology and public interest research.NORC’s IT work builds on a corporate history of over sixty years of conducting objective research in the public interest and delivering information technology solutions in support of this research. To make our clients successful, we create IT solutions that build on our deep consulting and systems integration capabilities in four core areas:Data CapturePrimary data collection Secondary data collection Data Management and AnalysisData Modeling Data Transformation Data Analytics Online Collaboration and Dissemination Solutions IT StrategyIT Business Strategy IT Policy NORC has delivered many successful projects in these four core areas to a variety of organizations including US federal agencies, foreign governments and private foundations. NORC’s team of over 100 IT staff offers a wide variety of IT skills including overall solution architecture, software engineering, software package configuration, database development and administration, business analysis, user interface design, quality assurance, project management, and infrastructure and network design and management. 2010-02-08http://norc.org/Aboutus/Our+Mission/ArthurColman (www.drybridge.com)colman@drybridge.com