American Association for Public Opinion Research

The American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) is a professional organization of more than 2,000 public opinion and survey research professionals in the United States and from around the world, with members from academia, media, government, the non-profit sector and private industry. AAPOR publishes three academic journals: Public Opinion Quarterly, Survey Practice and the Journal for Survey Statistics and Methodology. It holds an annual research conference and maintains a "Code of Professional Ethics and Practices", for survey research which all members agree to follow. The association's founders include pioneering pollsters Archibald Crossley, George Gallup, and Elmo Roper.

AAPOR's stated principle is that public opinion research is essential to a healthy democracy, providing information crucial to informed policy-making and giving voice to people's beliefs, attitudes and desires. Through its annual conference, standards and ethics codes and publications, AAPOR seeks to promote a better public understanding of the role of public opinion research in a democracy, as well as the sound and ethical conduct and use of public opinion research.

Standards and ethics

Promoting standards and ethics is central AAPOR's mission. The individuals who are members of AAPOR agree to observe the organization's Code of Professional Ethics and Practices[1] that define and mandate the proper practice of public opinion and survey research with the appropriate use of research results. The Code is designed to express fundamental principles that apply to the conduct of research regardless of an individual's membership in AAPOR. Adherence to the principles and actions set out in the Code is possible for of all public opinion and survey researchers, whether they are AAPOR members or not.

Under the Code, practitioners of survey research are expected to conduct their research with care, taking all reasonable steps to assure the reliability and validity of the results and communicate their methods and findings accurately with appropriate detail. The AAPOR code details the standards for dealing with research participants and identifiable information. And it indicates the need to provide clients with all information regarding possible research limitations and the need for disclosure.

The latest revision was approved in April 2021.[1]

Transparency Initiative

In October 2014, AAPOR launched the Transparency Initiative (TI)[2] to encourage research organizations to disclose their methodological procedures fully and rigorously when reporting survey-based findings. AAPOR established a set of principles for disclosure and then invited organizations to apply to join the TI effort and be recognized for their promise to comply with the guidelines. Joining the TI does not imply any judgment about the quality or rigor of the methods being disclosed. The purpose of TI is to promote understanding of the relationship between methodology and survey quality, increase adherence to AAPOR's Code of Professional Ethics and Practices and enable members of the media and the public to evaluate survey quality. As of 2023, there are 98 members.

Presidents
AAPOR Presidents from 1947 to the present
  • 1947–48 Clyde W. Hart
  • 1948–49 Elmo C. Wilson
  • 1949–50 Paul F. Lazarsfeld
  • 1950–51 Julian L. Woodward
  • 1951–52 Bernard Berelson
  • 1952–53 Archibald Crossley
  • 1953–54 Samuel A. Stouffer
  • 1954–55 George H. Gallup
  • 1955–56 Harry Alpert
  • 1956–57 Gerhart D. Wiebe
  • 1957–58 Frederick F. Stephan
  • 1958–59 David Wallace
  • 1959–60 Herbert H. Hyman
  • 1960–61 Robert O. Carlson
  • 1961–62 John W. Riley Jr.
  • 1962–63 Joseph T. Klapper
  • 1963–64 Charles Y. Glock
  • 1964–65 Herbert E. Krugman
  • 1965–66 Raymond A. Bauer
  • 1966–67 Leo Bogart
  • 1967–68 Paul B. Sheatsley
  • 1968–69 Robert N. Ford
  • 1969–70 Robert T. Bower
  • 1970–71 Richard H. Baxter
  • 1971–72 W. Phillips Davison
  • 1972–73 Sidney Hollander
  • 1973–74 Harold Mendelsohn
  • 1974–75 Herbert I. Abelson
  • 1975–76 Richard Maisel
  • 1976–77 Irving Crespi
  • 1977–78 Hope Lunin Klapper
  • 1978–79 Reuben Cohen
  • 1979–80 Jack Elinson
  • 1980–81 Helen J. Kaufmann
  • 1981–82 Seymour Sudman
  • 1982–83 Burns W. Roper
  • 1983–84 Laure M. Sharp
  • 1984–85 Albert E. Gollin
  • 1985–86 Howard Schuman
  • 1986–87 J. Ronald Milavsky
  • 1987–88 Eleanor Singer
  • 1988–89 Warren J. Mitofsky
  • 1989–90 Philip Meyer
  • 1990–91 Joan S. Black
  • 1991–92 Norman Bradburn
  • 1992–93 Kathleen A. Frankovic
  • 1993–94 Stanley Presser
  • 1994–95 Andrew Kohut
  • 1995–96 Robert M. Groves
  • 1996–97 Diane Colasanto
  • 1997–98 James R. Beniger
  • 1998–99 Michael R. Kagay
  • 1999–00 Michael W. Traugott
  • 2000–01 Murray Edelman
  • 2001–02 Don A. Dillman
  • 2002–03 Mark A. Schulman
  • 2003–04 Elizabeth (Betsy) Martin
  • 2004–05 Nancy Belden
  • 2005–06 Cliff Zukin
  • 2006–07 Robert P. Daves
  • 2007–08 Nancy A. Mathiowetz
  • 2008–09 Richard A. Kulka
  • 2009–10 Peter V. Miller
  • 2010–11 Frank M. Newport
  • 2011–12 Scott Keeter
  • 2012–13 Paul J. Lavrakas
  • 2013–14 Robert Santos
  • 2014–15 Michael W. Link
  • 2015-16 Mollyann Brodie
  • 2016-17 Roger Tourangeau
  • 2017-18 Tim Johnson
  • 2018-19 David Dutwin
  • 2019-20 Nora Cate Schaeffer
  • 2020-21 Dan Merkle
  • 2021-22 Patricia Moy

The AAPOR Awards

Each year, AAPOR presents a portfolio of awards to recognize distinguished work in the profession, as well as to further the education of students and early career researchers; these awards are the highest honors given by the AAPOR.

AAPOR Awards
Award Description
The AAPOR Award (lifetime achievement) Association's lifetime achievement award. It is given for an outstanding contribution to the field of public opinion research, including: advances in theory, empirical research and methods; improvements in ethical standards; and promotion of understanding among the public, media and/or policy makers.
The Warren J. Mitofsky Innovators Award Designed to recognize accomplishments in the fields of public opinion and survey research that occurred in the past ten years, or that had their primary impact on the field during the past decade. These innovations could consist of new theories, ideas, applications, methodologies or technologies. To be considered for the award, they must be publicly documented. The award can be given to individuals, groups or institutions.
The Seymour Sudman Student Paper Competition In memory of Seymour Sudman; it recognizes his many important contributions to AAPOR as well as his teaching and mentoring students in the survey research profession.
The Burns "Bud" Roper Fellow Award In memory of Burns "Bud" Roper who provided a substantial bequest in his will to endow the Roper Award fund. Roper Fellows are people whose primary work responsibilities are related to survey research or public opinion and who have recently started their careers. They receive financial assistance to help them attend the annual conference and/or participate in conference short courses; most are first-time conference attendees.
The AAPOR Policy Impact Award Developed to acknowledge that a key purpose of opinion and other survey research is to facilitate better informed decisions. The award recognizes outstanding research that has had a clear impact on improving policy decisions, practice and discourse, either in the public or private sectors.
The AAPOR Book Award Designed to recognize influential books that have stimulated theoretical and scientific research in public opinion; and/or influenced our understanding or application of survey research methodology. Eligibility for the AAPOR Book Award includes any book in the field that is at least three years old (to allow time for books to be read and reviewed), including any published before or during the period covered by the list of the Fifty Books That Have Significantly Shaped Public Opinion Research 1946–1995.” (The books on the “Fifty Books” list have already been recognized by AAPOR and are not eligible for the annual book award.)
The AAPOR Student Travel Award Established to fund students to attend the AAPOR Annual Conference. The Student Travel Awards are offered to students who are in need of financial support so that they may attend the annual conference and experience this important educational and networking event for survey methodology and public opinion researchers.
The WAPOR/AAPOR Janet A. Harkness Student Paper Award Established in 2013 in fond memory of Dr. Harkness, internationally recognized for her contributions to cross-cultural survey methodology. The award recognizes emerging young scholars in the study of multi-national/multi-cultural/multi-lingual survey research (aka 3M survey research) by offering a cash prize and support for participation in the WAPOR/AAPOR Conference. The award is co-sponsored by WAPOR and AAPOR. All contributions to the Harkness Fund are passed back directly to WAPOR.
AAPOR Lifetime Achievement Awardees from the present to 1955
2015 Nancy Mathiowetz
2014 Jon A. Krosnick
2013 Floyd J. Fowler Jr.
2012 Daniel Yankelovich
2011 Stanley Presser
2010 Michael W. Traugott
2009 Elizabeth Martin
2008 Kathleen Frankovic
2007 Harry O'Neill
2006 Norman H. Nie
2005 Andrew Kohut
2004 Benjamin I. Page
2003 Don A. Dillman & Frank Stanton
2002 Tom W. Smith
2001 Robert Groves
2000 Philip Meyer
1999 Charles Cannell & Warren J. Mitofsky
1998 Albert E. Gollin
1997 Irving Crespi
1996 Eleanor Singer
1995 Herbert I. Abelson
1994 Howard Schuman
1993 Jack Elinson
1992 James Davis
1991 Joe Belden
1990 Herbert E. Krugman
1989 Gladys Engel Lang & Kurt Lang
1988 Burns W. Roper
1987 Norman Bradburn & Seymour Sudman
1986 Philip Converse
1985 Daniel Katz
1984 Ithiel de Sola Pool
1983 Paul K. Perry
1982 Paul B. Sheatsley, Matilda White Riley, John R. Riley Jr. & Wilbur Schramm
1981 Lester R. Frankel
1980 Shirley A. Star
1979 Mervin D. Field
1978 W. Phillips Davison
1977 Leo Bogart
1976 Joseph T. Klapper
1975 Raymond A. Bauer
1974 Bernard Berelson
1973 Rensis Likert
1972 Jean Stoetzel
1971 Walter Lippman
1970 Archibald M. Crossley
1969 Roper Public Opinion Research Center
1968 Elmo C. Wilson
1967 Hans Zeisel
1966 Hadley Cantril
1965 Harry H. Field
1964 Harold D. Lasswell
1963 George H. Gallup
1962 Angus Campbell

Julian Woodward Award

1961 Fund for the Republic
1960 Clyde W. Hart
1959 Elmo Roper
1958 Samuel A. Stouffer
1957 Public Opinion Quarterly
1956 Herbert H. Hyman
1955 Paul F. Lazarsfeld

Reports

As needed, AAPOR may commission a working group to address topical issues relating to the survey research industry. These working groups produce reports to introduce new methods, address methodological concerns or provide guidance on the application of specific research methods. Here are some of those Task Force Reports:

  • June, 2021 - AAPOR/WAPOR Task Force Report on Quality in Comparative Surveys[3][4]
  • April, 2008 – AAPOR Cell Phone Task Force Report[5]
  • February 12, 2015 Task Force Report on Big Data[6]
  • September 8, 2014 – Current Knowledge and Considerations Regarding Survey Refusals[7]
  • May 30, 2014 – Social Media and Public Opinion Research: Report of the AAPOR Task Force on Emerging Technologies in Public Opinion Research[8]
  • May 12, 2014 – Mobile Technologies for Conducting, Augmenting and Potentially Replacing Surveys: Report of the AAPOR Task Force on Emerging Technologies in Public Opinion Research[9]
  • September 2, 2013 – Polling and Democracy: Report of the AAPOR Task Force on Public Opinion and Leadership[10]
  • May 17, 2013 – AAPOR Report on Non-Probability Sampling[11]
  • October 7, 2012 – AAPOR Statement on Understanding a "credibility interval"[12]
  • October 28, 2010 – AAPOR 2010 Cell Phone Task Force Report[13]
  • March 24, 2010 – AAPOR Opt In Online Panel Task Force Report[14]
  • May 16, 2009 – Report to the AAPOR Standards Committee on the status of Human Subjects Protection Training Requirements[15]
  • March 30, 2009 – An Evaluation of the Methodology of the 2008 Pre-Election Primary Polls: Report of ad hoc AAPOR Committee on the 2008 Presidential Primary Polling[16]
  • April, 2008 – AAPOR Cell Phone Task Force Report[5]
  • January 1, 2008 – Pre-Election Polling in New Hampshire: What Went Wrong?

Meetings

AAPOR holds an annual conference on public opinion and survey research and their methodologies and applications. According to AAPOR's history publication A Meeting Place and More, it holds a "central importance" at the organization.[17] The 75th Anniversary conference in 2020 was the only conference that was planned as an in-person meeting and converted to a virtual meeting due to the COVID-19 pandemic. AAPOR also sponsors short courses, webinars, and affinity group meetings. These events provide a platform for scholars and practitioners to exchange research, job opportunities and ideas with each other.[18]

See also

References
  1. "Code of Professional Ethics and Practices". Standards and Ethics, American Association for Public Opinion Research. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  2. "Transparency Initiative". AAPOR Standards and Ethics. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  3. "AAPOR/WAPOR Task Force Report on Quality in Comparative Surveys" (PDF). AAPOR Reports. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  4. "AAPOR/WAPOR Task Force Report on Quality in Comparative Surveys". World Association for Public Opinion Research. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  5. AAPOR Cell Phone Task Force (April 2009). "AAPOR Cell Phone Task Force Report" (PDF). American Association for Public Opinion Research. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2015-03-16. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  6. AAPOR Big Data Task Force (2015-02-15). "AAPOR Report on Big Data" (PDF). American Association for Public Opinion Research. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2015-03-16. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  7. AAPOR Survey Refusals Task Force (2014-09-08). "Current Knowledge and Considerations Regarding Survey Refusals" (PDF). American Association for Public Opinion Research. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2015-03-16. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  8. AAPOR Task Force on Emerging Technologies in Public Opinion Research (2014-05-30). "Social Media and Public Opinion Research" (PDF). American Association for Public Opinion Research. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2015-10-10. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  9. AAPOR Task Force on Emerging Technologies in Public Opinion Research (2014-05-12). "Mobile Technologies for Conducting, Augmenting and Potentially Replacing Surveys" (PDF). American Association for Public Opinion Research. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2015-03-16. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  10. AAPOR Task Force on Public Opinion and Leadership (2013-09-02). "Polling and Democracy: Report of the AAPOR Task Force on Public Opinion and Leadership" (PDF). American Association for Public Opinion Research. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2015-03-16. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  11. AAPOR Task Force (2013-05-17). "Mobile Technologies for Conducting, Augmenting and Potentially Replacing Surveys" (PDF). American Association for Public Opinion Research. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2015-12-28. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  12. "AAPOR Statement on Understanding a "credibility interval"" (PDF). American Association for Public Opinion Research. 2012-10-07. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-03-16. Retrieved 2015-10-28.
  13. AAPOR Cell Phone Task Force (2010-10-28). "AAPOR 2010 Cell Phone Task Force Report" (PDF). American Association for Public Opinion Research. Archived from the original on 2015-09-29. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  14. AAPOR Opt In Online Panel Task Force (2010-03-24). "AAPOR Opt In Online Panel Task Force Report" (PDF). American Association for Public Opinion Research. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-09-09. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  15. "Report to the AAPOR Standards Committee on the status of Human Subjects Protection Training Requirements" (PDF). American Association for Public Opinion Research. 2009-05-19. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2015-03-16. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  16. ad hoc AAPOR Committee on the 2008 Presidential Primary Polling (2009-03-30). "An Evaluation of the Methodology of the 2008 Pre-Election Primary Polls: Report of ad hoc AAPOR Committee on the 2008 Presidential Primary Polling" (PDF). American Association for Public Opinion Research. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2015-03-16. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  17. "A Meeting Place and More". History - AAPOR. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  18. "Past Conferences". AAPOR. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
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