Self-Administered Data Collection

​NORC has expertise in designing and executing self-administered modes of data collection, including mail surveys and surveys conducted on the Web.

Mail Surveys

NORC’s long-standing expertise with pencil-and-paper-based (PAPI) surveys focuses not only on technical aspects of instrument design (e.g., ensuring appropriate response categories, maximizing comprehension), but also on reducing respondent burden by use of optimal design.  Our approach includes professional layout and printing as well as high-quality mail-out and receipt control procedures.  In capturing PAPI data, NORC supports both keyed data entry and high-speed optical scanning.

Web Surveys

With the rapid expansion of Internet access and technology, surveys are increasingly fielded via the Web.  NORC has experience fielding surveys of varying complexity to diverse audiences using both commercial Web survey applications and custom-built Web survey applications developed by NORC’s Information Technology (IT) group.  NORC has particular strength in offering respondents multiple options for survey completion (e.g., paper, Web, and telephone).

Representative Projects

2010 Census Integrated Communications Program Evaluation. NORC was selected to conduct a rigorous and independent evaluation of the communications campaign for the 2010 Census to assess the campaign's success and help preparations for the 2020 Census. More

Bank of Spain Survey of Household Finances. The Survey of Household Finances collects data on the investment and financial decisions of Spanish households. It is the sole source of disaggregated data of its kind in Spain and forms an important source of data for research and public policy.  More

Design and Implementation of the Monitoring and Evaluation of the Competitive African Cotton for Pro-Poor Growth (COMPACI) Program. NORC is designing and conducting a large-scale monitoring and evaluation of the Competitive African Cotton for Pro-Poor Growth (COMPACI) Program in six African countries – Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Malawi, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.  More

Implementation of an M&E System for the African Cashew Initiative (ACI). The African Cashew Initative , funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, aims to strengthen global competitiveness of cashew production and processing in five pilot countries in Africa: Mozambique, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire and Benin. More

School Improvement Status and Outcomes for Students with Disabilities Study (SWD). The focus of the study is on evaluating the effectiveness of improvement efforts in schools that have failed repeatedly to make adequate yearly progress for students with disabilities in particular grades and subjects.  More