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- 1: Survey Analysis Workshop (SPSS)
- 1a: Statistical concepts and methods
- 1b: Teaching with Survey Data
- 1c: Developing research projects using survey data
- 1d: Workshop and presentations for ASSESS (SPSS users in Europe)
- 2: Survey Research Practice
- 2a: Survey Research Methodology, Practice and Training
- 2b: Major survey series
- 3: Subjective Social Indicators (Quality of Life)
- 4: Survey Unit, Social Science Research Council (UK)
- 5a: Polytechnic of North London (1976-1992)
- 5b: Survey Research Unit (1978-1992)
- Village life in Normandy
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Major survey research organisations
[Page last updated 14 Nov 2015]
Listed below are some of the major academic, government, not-for-profit and commercial organisations doing surveys or offering survey research services. They all have distinguished track records and are very approachable for advice as well as for research services. See also Academic centres with specialisms in survey research (and offering courses in methods and analysis). Many centres place their survey data in the public domain to be used for secondary analysis and/or teaching.
See also Opinion polls
Listed below are some of the major academic, government, not-for-profit and commercial organisations doing surveys or offering survey research services. They all have distinguished track records and are very approachable for advice as well as for research services. See also Academic centres with specialisms in survey research (and offering courses in methods and analysis). Many centres place their survey data in the public domain to be used for secondary analysis and/or teaching.
See also Opinion polls
United Kingdom
Government
Office for National Statistics
The Office for National Statistics carries out high quality social survey research for government departments and other public bodies on a range of social issues. This service began during the Second World War as the Wartime Social Survey and then the Government Social Survey. Since then we have been carrying out survey research for over 60 years, helping to develop government policies, inform public debate and monitor changes over time. Many government surveys are routinely deposited with UK Data Services based at the University of Essex (see especially UK Surveys, Crossnational surveys and Longitudinal Surveys).
Not-for-profit
National Centre for Social Research
Natcen (previously Social and Community Planning Research) is a not-for-profit organisation, dedicated to making an impact on society and advancing the role of social research in the UK. We aim to share our insight and knowledge with the wider research and policy community, through NatCen Learning and the recently launched Survey Skills programme.
Major companies offering survey research services
There are are number of commercial market research companies who are also major players in social research. In recent years there have been several changes as companies merge or are taken over (keep "jumping into bed with each other" as one colleague put it). I list below some of the more reputable outfits.
gfk/NOP
Worldwide GfK NOP Social Research is a leading research partner to public sector organisations in the UK, providing both quantitative and qualitative research services to all tiers of government.
We carry out research for all the major British government departments and also count many local authorities and government agencies among our clients. National newspapers, universities, the National Health Service, Learning & Skills Councils and a variety of non-governmental organisations also rely on our research expertise.
Our work requires a blend of research experience and public policy knowledge. GfK NOP’s dedicated Social Research division has a wealth of experience in both of these critical areas, and our research is used to inform policy development, spending decisions and communication strategies. To assist the way we work and expand our knowledge and resources, we also work in partnership with a range of academic institutions and consultancies.
We carry out research for all the major British government departments and also count many local authorities and government agencies among our clients. National newspapers, universities, the National Health Service, Learning & Skills Councils and a variety of non-governmental organisations also rely on our research expertise.
Our work requires a blend of research experience and public policy knowledge. GfK NOP’s dedicated Social Research division has a wealth of experience in both of these critical areas, and our research is used to inform policy development, spending decisions and communication strategies. To assist the way we work and expand our knowledge and resources, we also work in partnership with a range of academic institutions and consultancies.
Ipsos/MORI
Ipsos MORI, part of the Ipsos Group, is a leading UK research company with global reach. It specialises in a number of areas, including Social & Political Research. Users of this site will find The Ipsos-MORI Story particularly interesting as it includes a short biographical history of the development of social survey and market research.
Other specialisms are in researching Advertising (brand equity and communications); Loyalty (customer and employee relationship management); Marketing (consumer, retail & shopper and healthcare); MediaCT (media and technology), and Reputation Research.
Other specialisms are in researching Advertising (brand equity and communications); Loyalty (customer and employee relationship management); Marketing (consumer, retail & shopper and healthcare); MediaCT (media and technology), and Reputation Research.
Taylor Nelson/BMRB
TNS-BMRB is the specialist social research division within TNS It was formed from a merger of BMRB Social Research and TNS Social Research. It provides public policy research and insight to government and not-for-profit clients and offers a range of approaches including bespoke research and consultancy.
Mass Observation
Mass-Observation was founded in 1937. Whilst not strictly a survey research organization, their work was important in the development of empirical research in the UK. Their work ended in the mid 1960s but was revived in 1981. The Archive is housed at the University of Sussex.
Mass-Observation aimed to record everyday life in Britain through a panel of around 500 untrained volunteer observers who either maintained diaries or replied to open-ended questionnaires. They also paid investigators to anonymously record people's conversation and behaviour at work, on the street and at various public occasions including public meetings and sporting and religious events.
Mass-Observation aimed to record everyday life in Britain through a panel of around 500 untrained volunteer observers who either maintained diaries or replied to open-ended questionnaires. They also paid investigators to anonymously record people's conversation and behaviour at work, on the street and at various public occasions including public meetings and sporting and religious events.
France
The Institut français d'opinion publique (IFOP) (French Institute of Public Opinion) is an international marketing firm, whose motto is "Connection creates value". The IFOP sells polls to firms and political parties. It was founded in 1938 by Jean Stoetzel, former professor at the Sorbonne, after he met George Gallup in the US.
Germany
The Allensbach Institute, formally the Allensbach Institute for Public Opinion Research or Allensbach Institute for Public Opinion Polling (Institut für Demoskopie Allensbach), is a private institute. Founded in 1947 by Elisabeth Noelle-Neumann and Erich Peter Neumann, and modelled after Paul Lazarsfeld's Wirtschaftspsychologische Forschungsstelle at the University of Vienna,] The Allensbach Institute was the firstpublic opinion research institute in Germany, depending primarily on the sale of market research studies for financing.
USA
Westat is an employee-owned corporation providing research services to agencies of the U.S. Government, as well as businesses, foundations, and state and local governments.
World-wide
Gallup
Gallup is one of the oldest survey organisations, and has grown into a massive international enterprise condducting several major survey series as well as one-off studies. They are heavily involved in the World Values Survey and have links to the European Quality of Life Surveys (EQLS) both of which include measures originally developed and tested by the SSRC Survey Unit to provide subjective indicators of Quality of Life. Later development work was done by my Survey Research Unit for the precursor European Value Systems Study Group (See page: Values and Quality of Life)