J. Michael Dennis Joins NORC At The University Of Chicago To Lead AmeriSpeak Panel Research Platform

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Feb 25, 2015, 11:47 ET

CHICAGO, Feb. 25, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NORC at the University of Chicago announced today that J. Michael (Mike) Dennis, PhD, one of the foremost national experts in online research panels, will lead AmeriSpeak^TM, NORC's new breakthrough panel-based research platform. As senior vice president at NORC and executive director of AmeriSpeak, Dennis will oversee all of AmeriSpeak's operations, including business development and panel recruitment.

AmeriSpeak^TM is the first online research platform to combine the speed and cost effectiveness of traditional panel surveys with enhanced representativeness of the U.S. population, an approach designed to achieve an industry-leading response rate, and an innovative sample quality report card that shows how the sample represents the U.S. population. Through AmeriSpeak, organizations can conduct research with a representative community, or panel, of pre-recruited participants who have agreed to take part in regular online and telephone surveys on government policies, social and political issues, new consumer products and services, and other topics.

"We are delighted that Mike Dennis is joining NORC. AmeriSpeak is one of NORC's signature initiatives that brings our dedication to excellence and innovation to the world of cost-effective, rapid turnaround online research," said Dan Gaylin, president of NORC at the University of Chicago. "There is no one better to lead AmeriSpeak than Mike Dennis. His deep expertise in online research across sectors will ensure that AmeriSpeak leads the way in quality and scientific standards."

Dennis is a nationally recognized expert on survey research methods, with a particular focus on online surveys and household panels. He has overseen more than 100 statistical studies using online data collection and was appointed to serve as a member of the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) Task Force that developed online survey recommendations for researchers.

"I'm thrilled to be leading AmeriSpeak for NORC. It represents a significant new direction for research panels," said Michael Dennis. "AmeriSpeak enables organizations to take advantage of the affordability, speed, and sample targeting benefits of panel-based surveys, while obtaining the response rates and sample quality typical of traditional and more expensive survey methods."

Prior to joining NORC, Dennis held several executive positions over 14 years at Knowledge Networks, which was acquired by GfK Custom Research in 2012. Dennis founded Knowledge Networks' Government and Academic Research Unit and managed all of the company's federal, academic, and foundation-funded research for clients such as the Centers for Disease Control, the Environmental Protection Agency, the University of Pennsylvania, the National Science Foundation, and Stanford University. Dennis also provided management and scientific oversight for KnowledgePanel®.

Dennis has also designed and directed consumer market research studies regarding smartphones, personal computing, and other products and services.

He will be based in NORC's Redwood City, California, office.

AmeriSpeak^TM is currently responding to requests for proposals and will start fielding surveys for clients later this spring.

For more information on AmeriSpeak^TM, please visit http://AmeriSpeak.norc.org.

About NORC at the University of Chicago
As one of the world's foremost independent research institutions, NORC at the University of Chicago delivers objective data and meaningful analysis to help decision-makers and leading organizations make informed choices and identify new opportunities. Since 1941, NORC has applied sophisticated methods and tools, innovative and cost-effective solutions, and the highest standards of scientific integrity and quality to conduct and advance research on critical issues. Today, NORC expands on this tradition by partnering with government, business, and nonprofit clients to create deep insight across a broad range of topics and to disseminate useful knowledge throughout society.

Headquartered in downtown Chicago, NORC works in over 40 countries around the world, with additional offices on the University of Chicago campus, the DC metro area, Atlanta, Boston, and San Francisco.

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