NORC at the University of Chicago

NORC operates an institutional research and data services model. It designs and delivers custom social science and market research projects, including nationally representative surveys and programme evaluations, on behalf of public, academic, non‑profit and commercial clients. Value is created by applying rigorous survey methods, probability‑based sampling and secure data infrastructure to generate high‑quality, policy‑relevant and market‑relevant datasets and analyses. In addition, it offers reusable research infrastructure—probability‑based panels, secure virtual data environments and long‑running survey series—that clients can leverage for their own studies, reducing their need to build such capabilities in‑house. As a not‑for‑profit, surplus is typically reinvested into research capabilities and infrastructure rather than distributed to shareholders.

National Opinion Research Center (NORC) is a not‑for‑profit social science research organisation affiliated with the University of Chicago. It conducts contract research, large‑scale surveys and data collection for government agencies, academic institutions, non‑profits and commercial clients, and operates secure data environments and research panels.

NORC generates income through fee‑for‑service research projects, access to its probability‑based survey panels, secure data enclave services and calibrated market‑data products. Its direct customers are institutional buyers of research and data services rather than individual consumers.