by Tim Johnson, President
​While survey and public opinion research received its fair share of Total Survey Error-based scientific critiques during our recent New Orleans Conference, we’re all painfully aware that our work is also sometimes targeted for unfair criticisms. AAPOR is beginning to take steps to confront some of these issues through the work of two new Ad Hoc Committees that are in the process of being organized.
by Jennifer Dykema, 2017 Conference Chair
Thanks to everyone for making the 72nd annual conference a huge success! It was a record-setting event on many fronts featuring more attendees (over 1,250) and sessions (110) than ever before. Throughout the conference you could hear attendees lament that there were simply too many good sessions to choose from. As promised, it was the premier event for consuming the latest, cutting-edge research on surveys and substantive findings from public opinion researchers. Meanwhile the unprecedented number and variety of sessions focusing on the 2016 election and polling (17 in total) ensured our conference's standing at the forefront of scholarship and debate on the 2016 vote. Proceedings from the conference will be available soon so be sure to get copies of presentations you might have missed.
by Brady West, Education Committee Chair
The Online Education Subcommittee organizes the AAPOR webinars put on by the Education Committee. This includes planning the annual schedule, tracking webinar performance, and moderating the webinars. We have also undertaken a number of new initiatives such as live streaming events and granting PRC credits for webinar participation (this is a work in progress).
by Ashley Kirzinger and Tim Triplett, TICC Co-Chairs
The AAPOR’s Transparency Initiative Coordinating Committee is proud to announce three new members to the dedicated committee of AAPOR members who are charged with assessing organizational compliance with disclosure standards. The new members are:
- Jennifer Benz, Ph.D., The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research
- Alian Kasabian, Ph.D., University of Nebraska-Lincoln
- Pia Peltola, Ph.D., American Institutes for Research
We are thankful for the continued commitment to the Transparency Initiative from AAPOR members.
The Washington-Baltimore Chapter of the American Association for Public Opinion Research (DC-AAPOR) has grown to 443 members and is having a busy year.
Spring events included a weighting course (co-sponsored with AAPOR) taught by David Haziza, and a Meet-the-National Council Happy Hour (
https://dc-aapor.org/events/past-events/). Seventy people participated in the 2-day weighting course; registrants who were not AAPOR or DC-AAPOR members received membership in both organizations as part of their registration fees. Over 45 DC-AAPOR members came out to Zatyina in downtown DC to meet and mingle with AAPOR board members before their spring business meeting.