Confidentiality

Confidentiality Pledge

NORC has protected respondent confidentiality for more than 80 years and is widely respected as a leader in social science research. This reputation is built upon a fundamental commitment to respecting the privacy of every research participant.

NORC has conducted the Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) since 1992. The SCF collects information about families' assets, debts, income, opinions and expectations, along with other data needed to place this information in context. Participation in this survey is voluntary and you may skip questions that you do not wish to answer. However, we hope that you will recognize your importance in this study and answer as many questions as you can.

Below you will find our pledges to you as a participant in the Survey of Consumer Finances:

Your personal information will only be used to contact you regarding your participation and our "thank you" gift for your involvement in the study, or to respond to any questions or comments you may have.
We will never sell or distribute your personal information to third parties.
Information collected for the study will only ever be used for statistical purposes and will be protected by cybersecurity measures
We provide survey responses in aggregate form so that you will not be identified from your survey responses.
Each NORC employee who interacts with you or your data in any way is covered by a legally binding agreement to protect your confidentiality not just during the survey, but for his or her entire life. Violation of the confidentiality agreement is a felony offense under the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 2018.

Data Security

NORC has received a high level of certification from the National Institute of Standards and Technology for information security. To read more about NORC’s data security protocols, visit the Data Security page.

Learn More

Please visit the Contact Us page to learn how to get more information online, by telephone, or via e-mail.

If you have any questions about your rights as a participant in this research project, you may call the IRB manager at NORC at 1-866-309-0542.