Ipsos MORI is the second largest survey research organisation in the UK, formed by two of the UK's leading survey companies in October 2005. MORI (Market & Opinion Research International) was originally founded in 1969 by Robert Worcester, and was the largest independent research organisation in the United Kingdom. Ipsos is one of the largest survey research organisations in the world, with offices in dozens of countries, founded in the mid 1970s in France by Didier Truchot and Jean Marc Lech.
The organisation has a freely available archive of opinion polls and public attitude research from 1970 onwards, including trends on its UK website.
Ipsos MORI's Social Research Institute works extensively for UK government and public services, looking at public attitudes to key public services which formed a key part of the UK Government's domestic agenda in 1997-2005. Social policy, and issues such as identity, social cohesion, physical capital and the impact of place on attitudes are all key themes of the Institute's work.
The company also specialises in Media, Loyalty and Marketing and Advertising Research.
In June 2005, Robert Worcester stepped down from chairmanship of MORI and became its Life President. MORI was bought by the French research agency Ipsos in October 2005 for £88 million and is now known as 'Ipsos MORI'. Ben Page is now Chief Executive.
Ipsos MORI's research is conducted via a wide range of methodologies, especially telephone (CATI Computer aided telephone interviewing), face-to-face and internet surveys. Telephone surveys use a method called random digit dialing and are exempt from the Telephone Preference Service as TPS only blocks sales calls. As Ipsos sell nothing whatsoever and are purely research, they are exempt from the TPS. This system basically uses randomly generated, but area-specific, telephone numbers. This is the preferred method for telephone samples as ex-directory households are included thus not biasing the sample in any way. Ipsos MORI are able to lawfully to use this techonology as they use it for research purposes as opposed to sales and advertising.
Ipsos MORI conduct surveys for a wide range of major organisations as well as other market research agencies.
In 2006, Ipsos MORI were the first research agency in the world to gain ISO 20252, the new international quality standard for research.
Ipsos MORI have offices and three call centres located all over the UK. Their largest call centre is in Edinburgh, but most research is still conducted in Harrow (London) and Lowestoft.
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