Organized as an independent corporation, more than half its board comes from faculty and administration of the University of Chicago.

[1] The organization was founded by researcher Harry Field in 1941 as the "National Opinion Research Center", with financial support from department-store heir and newspaper owner Marshall Field III (no relation) and the University of Denver, where it was located.

Data from surveys are also often analyzed in a wide range of social sciences, especially sociology.

NORC clients have included: In October 2023, United States Department of Labor and NORC reached a conciliation agreement to resolve alleged hiring discrimination against Asian applicants for positions as coronavirus contact tracers between May 2020 to August 2021.

NORC agreed to pay $95,000 in back wages and interest to 107 Asian applicants and also review its hiring policies, procedures, and trainings so they are free from discrimination in accordance to Executive Order 11246.