NORC

NORC, or the National Opinion Research Center, is a nonprofit social science research organization affiliated with the University of Chicago. Founded in 1941, NORC conducts measurement-driven research on public policy issues through surveys, evaluations, and data analysis. It operates as an independent unit that partners with government agencies, foundations, universities, and private organizations to inform policy and social science understanding.

Its best-known project is the General Social Survey (GSS), a long-running study of attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors of U.S. adults that began in 1972 and has produced a widely used dataset for social science research. NORC also manages and conducts national and international surveys, program evaluations, and health and demographic studies. The organization deploys probability-based sampling and mixed-mode data collection (including telephone and online surveys) to reach diverse populations. It maintains secure data practices, and publishes datasets and reports that are used by scholars, policymakers, journalists, and practitioners.

NORC's work covers a broad range of topics such as health and well-being, education, economy and work, public opinion, housing, crime and safety, and social trends. It provides research design, data collection, analysis, and interpretation, often translating findings into policy-relevant briefings and publications.

Notable aspects include its longstanding commitment to data quality and transparency, its role in building national data infrastructures, and its partnerships with federal agencies and academic institutions. NORC at the University of Chicago continues to be a prominent source of empirical evidence for understanding social change in the United States and beyond.