The institutions that make up the network range from private research firms to large universities. The Institute for Research in Social Science , University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, serves as the NNSP headquarters. The purpose of the network is to promote the collection and use of state survey data and to develop a comprehensive archive of state survey data. The electronic archive of state survey data maintained by the NNSP is available through the IRSS Public Opinion Item Index , which allows researcher to identify questions used in different states to study a topic. The index displays the full question text and marginals for each item retrieved.
Researchers can also obtain copies of complete survey data for further analysis.
The NNSP Archive enhances researchers' abilities to examine state level survey data and to investigate the impact of different environments and contexts on public opinion. Although members are not required to share their state survey data with the NNSP, we strongly encourage them to make their material available to outside researchers through our data archive. In addition to serving as a resource center for state level survey data, the Network publishes a NNSP Newsletter where state survey organizations can exchange information concerning both their methodologies and the results of their studies. Through the exchange members can learn about the effectiveness and impact of different survey techniques. Also, by acquiring information about conditions in other states, members are in a better position to analyze the results of their own surveys.