Tom W. Smith

Tom W. Smith Senior Fellow and Director

Center for the Study of Politics and Society
Ogburn-Stouffer Center for the Study of Social Organizations

Ph.D., American History, University of Chicago
M.A., History, Pennsylvania State University
B.A., History, Political Science, Pennsylvania State University

Senior Fellow Tom Smith directs NORC's Center for the Study of Politics and Society. Since 1980, he has served as Director of the General Social Survey (GSS), one of NORC's most visible projects and one of the nation's most heavily utilized datasets. He is also co-founder of the International Social Survey Program (ISSP), former Secretary General of the ISSP, and currently serving on the ISSP Standing and Methodology Committees.


He is frequently consulted and quoted by the news media on such diverse topics as American sexual behavior, intergroup relations, confidence in institutions, happiness, religion, guns, and voter behavior.

Smith is a prolific writer, analyzing and publishing the results of his studies in peer-reviewed journals and NORC-published reports aimed at students, scholars, and policy makers. He serves as a referee for several peer-reviewed journals, including Public Opinion Quarterly, Health Affairs, and Demography, and he is a member of the editorial board of the International Journal of Public Opinion Research. Smith was recently appointed editor-in-chief of Public Opinion Quarterly, effective January 2013.

In addition to his extensive publication and public speaking record, Smith has been the recipient of the following awards: Worcester Prize, International Journal of Public Opinion Research, 1994; AAPOR Innovators Award, 2000 and 2003; AAPOR Award for Exceptionally Distinguished Achievement, 2002; Eastern Sociological Society Award for Distinguished Contributions to Sociology, 2003; Demographic Diamond Designate, American Demographics, 2003; American Sociological Association Travel Award for World Congress of Sociology, 2010; Best Publication by an International Scholar, American Sociological Association Section on Global and Transnational Sociology, 2010; and the Warren E. Miller Award for Meritorious Service to the Social Sciences, ICPSR/The University of Michigan, 2011.

Representative Projects

National Data Program for the Social Sciences (NDPSS). The National Data Program for the Social Sciences (NDPSS) is a highly productive social indicators, infrastructure, and data-diffusion program. More

General Social Survey (GSS). Since 1972, the General Social Survey (GSS) has been monitoring societal change and studying the growing complexity of American society. The GSS is NORC’s longest running project, and one of its most influential.GSS Spending Priorities.pdf More

Headlines

News The Associated Press, at the Huffington Post: How Americans actually agree on our most contentious issues according to Tom Smith and the GSS More
Posted: 5.13.2013 4:49PM
News The Associated Press: How government spending conflicts Americans, citing GSS data and NORC Expert Tom W. Smith More
Posted: 3.8.2013 4:06PM
News UPI: NORC Expert Tom Smith talks environmental issues and a decrease in concern More
Posted: 2.26.2013 10:35AM
Press Release International Surveys Show Environmental Issues Rank Low Among Most People’s Concerns More
Posted: 2.25.2013 2:21PM
News Yahoo! News: The potential link between sex and chores, with input from NORC's Tom W. Smith More
Posted: 1.31.2013 5:45PM

Contact

Tom W. Smith

(773) 256-6288