NORC'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.  Click here for more information.