American Association for Public Opinion Research

American Association for Public Opinion Research
Name	American Association for Public Opinion Research
Abbrev	AAPOR
Formation	1947
Type	Professional association
Headquarters	United States
Fields	Public opinion research, survey methodology, polling

Contents

American Association for Public Opinion Research is a professional association founded in 1947 that serves practitioners and scholars of survey research, polling, and public opinion measurement. The organization brings together researchers from academic institutions such as Harvard University, Stanford University, University of Chicago, Columbia University, and University of Michigan with professionals from firms like Gallup, Pew Research Center, Nielsen Holdings, YouGov, and Ipsos. AAPOR engages with policymakers, media organizations including The New York Times, The Washington Post, BBC, CNN, and The Wall Street Journal and interacts with international associations such as European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research, World Association for Public Opinion Research, and Australian Market and Social Research Society.

History

The association was established in the postwar era alongside institutions like American Statistical Association, Royal Statistical Society, International Statistical Institute, and American Sociological Association as interest in systematic public measurement grew amid events like 1948 United States presidential election, Korean War, and the rise of mass media represented by NBC, CBS Television Network, and Time (magazine). Early leaders had ties to universities including University of Wisconsin–Madison, Princeton University, Yale University, Johns Hopkins University, and research firms connected with Roper Center for Public Opinion Research and Institute for Social Research (ISR). During the late 20th century the association confronted methodological shifts driven by technologies from AT&T, IBM, Microsoft, and later Google and Facebook (now Meta Platforms, Inc.). High-profile polling controversies linked to events such as the 1948 United States presidential election and the 2016 United States presidential election prompted AAPOR to develop best practices and transparency initiatives in concert with organizations like National Council on Public Polls and Pew Research Center.

Membership comprises academics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, New York University, University of California, Berkeley, Northwestern University, and Duke University and practitioners from companies like Kantar Group, Westat, RTI International, Abt Associates, and NORC at the University of Chicago. Governance uses bylaws modeled after groups such as American Bar Association and American Medical Association, with elected officers and committees mirroring structures at National Academy of Sciences and American Philosophical Society. AAPOR collaborates with regional groups including Midwest Association for Public Opinion Research and subject-specific networks like Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management.

AAPOR’s influence is evident in media reporting by The Economist, New Yorker, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, and Chicago Tribune and in policy debates involving U.S. Supreme Court, European Court of Human Rights, Congressional Budget Office, and International Monetary Fund. Its standards inform academic curricula at institutions including London School of Economics, Columbia Journalism School, Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The association’s work has shaped practices at polling organizations such as Voxpopuli Research, CBS News Poll, ABC News/Washington Post Polling and influenced public trust debates connected to events like Brexit referendum, COVID-19 pandemic, and 2008 United States financial crisis.

Category:Professional associations based in the United States