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NORC at the University Chicago

NORC at the University of Chicago is an objective, nonpartisan research organization that delivers insights and analysis decision-makers trust.

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Together, We Find Evidence for a Better World

NORC partners with government, corporate, and nonprofit clients around the world to inform the critical decisions facing society.  

From groundbreaking longitudinal work like the General Social Survey to quick-turnaround studies that use our AmeriSpeak panel, NORC pursues hundreds of projects in any given year. In the process, we develop innovative research methods and analytical tools, advance principles of scientific integrity and collaboration, and support evidence-based policymaking and program development.

Our People & Culture
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Landmark Projects

AP VoteCast

More accurate insights into voters and the issues they care about

Client:

The Associated Press

The General Social Survey

The most rigorous, widely used data on the attitudes, opinions, and behaviors of the American public

Client:

The National Science Foundation

Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS)

The most comprehensive source of data on Medicare spending and the evolving needs of beneficiaries

Client:

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

2024 National Survey of Early Care and Education

Examining early care and education after major disruption

Client:

Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation in the Department of Health and Human Services

National Social Life, Health & Aging Project

A pioneering nationally representative study of the intersection between social and intimate relationships and healthy aging

Client:

National Institute on Aging

Assessing Child Labor in West Africa Cocoa Farming

The largest-ever examination of child labor in the cocoa sector in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana

Client:

Bureau of International Labor Affairs at the U.S. Department of Labor
Browse the Project Catalog

A History of Informing the Future

Since our founding in 1941, when we surveyed public attitudes about the U.S.’s potential entry into World War II, NORC’s trustworthy data and insights have informed society’s most important decisions.

For more than 80 years, NORC has used proven methods and pioneered new techniques to study the broad spectrum of human experience. We have explored the structural and personal factors that contribute to health and well-being. We have examined how we best learn at different stages of development and how education systems contribute to positive and negative outcomes.

We have charted the nature of employment and work and created deep knowledge about the state of the national economy and our relationship with money and income. We have helped governments around the world design, implement, and evaluate programs to improve the human condition. And we have probed the heart of the American psyche to understand the sometimes conflicting views that will shape the future of the country.

Explore NORC’s History

A Forward-Looking Partnership

NORC & the University of Chicago

NORC is an independent affiliate of the University of Chicago, with whom we share a commitment to academic excellence and scientific rigor, as well as deep leadership and research ties. More than half of NORC’s board is composed of UChicago faculty members and administrators, and we co-sponsor several Academic Research Centers that are housed on the University’s campus. NORC greatly expands UChicago’s research capacity, and UChicago gives NORC access to a vast network of subject matter experts who can contribute to our client work.

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NORC at a Glance

NORC has the organizational scale and the interdisciplinary scope to conduct research in communities across the country and in countries around the world.

500+
Active Projects
NORC experts conduct innovative, nonpartisan research and analysis for governments and organizations around the world.
300M+
Annual Revenue
Our cutting-edge work is funded by national and international government agencies, foundations, corporate, and nonprofit clients who turn to NORC for objectivity and deep expertise.
100+
Countries
NORC’s global portfolio continues to grow. Our international development experts have conducted research in more than 100 countries since 1941.
3,000+
Staff Members
The talented staff at NORC bring a diverse range of skills, education, and cultural backgrounds that strengthen our work. At the height of data collection, NORC employs more than 3,000 staff members across the country.