John H. Thompson, President and CEO of NORC at the University of Chicago, has been appointed to the Committee on National Statistics.
The Committee on National Statistics (CNSTAT) is an independent and objective resource for evaluating and improving the work of the highly decentralized U.S. federal statistical system. It undertakes studies from a broad range of statistical, research, and program agencies of the federal government.
To improve the statistical methods and information on which public policy decisions are based, CNSTAT works to foster state-of-the-art data collection and estimation methods for a wide range of federal statistical activities, to further the application of statistics to better implement and evaluate federal programs, and to strengthen the development and accessibility of data for social, economic, and other scientific research. Every 4 years it publishes the influential volume, Principles and Practices for a Federal Statistical Agency.
The work of CNSTAT is guided by an interdisciplinary committee of about 15 experts in applied statistics, biostatistics, economics, demography, sociology, survey research, statistical agency management, and operations research. The Committee on National Statistics is located with the Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education of the National Research Council, the operating arm of the National Academies.
Thompson’s term is scheduled to run from July 2011 through June 2014.
About NORC
NORC at the University of Chicago is an independent research organization headquartered in downtown Chicago with additional offices on the University of Chicago's campus and in the D.C. Metro area. NORC also supports a nationwide field staff as well as international research operations. With clients throughout the world, NORC collaborates with government agencies, foundations, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and businesses to provide data and analysis that support informed decision making in key areas including health, education, economics, crime, justice, energy, security, and the environment. NORC’s 70 years of leadership and experience in data collection, analysis, and dissemination—coupled with deep subject matter expertise—provides the foundation for effective solutions.
About the Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education
Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education (DBASSE)—one of six divisions within the National Academies—serves to advance the frontiers of the behavioral and social sciences and their application to public policy. Investigations address questions at the forefront of the national policy agenda. Experts from academia, business, and government volunteer their services on study committees to provide independent, objective advice in a public report. Rigorous investigation, continuous oversight, and formal review ensure each report’s objectivity, quality, and adherence to the highest scientific standards. As a result, the Division’s reports are often highly influential in public policy making.