Between now and November 4^th, you’re going to be inundated with polling data.  AAPOR has a range of resources to help you quickly make sense of the numbers, including: 

• Telling the difference between so-called “push” polls and legitimate message testing.  
• Judging different likely voter models.  
• Determining when the difference between candidates is greater than the margin of sampling error.  
• Why two polls by well-known pollsters might produce different results.

The American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) can help you sort out these and other issues related to polls and survey research.    

AAPOR is a non-profit association whose members are engaged or interested in public opinion and survey research.  We are committed to sound and ethical practices in the conduct and use of public opinion research and to improving public understanding of research methods and interpretation

I.  Do you want an authoritative source on the public opinion survey research industry? The AAPOR leadership is available by phone and email. 

President Richard A. (Dick) Kulka, PhD.,  Group Vice President, Survey Research at Abt Associates Inc, 919.294.7710 

President-elect Peter V. Miller,  Associate Professor, Department of Communication Studies and Faculty Affiliate, Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern University 847.491.5835 

Past President Nancy A. Mathiowetz, PhD., Professor and Chair, Department of Sociology at the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee, 414.229.2216  

Leadership bios

II.  Looking for quick summaries of some of the most frequently raised topics? 

The AAPOR website has FAQs on a range of issues:  

• What is a "Push" Poll?
• Do Response Rates Matter?
• What is a Random Sample?
• Why do Election Polls Vary? (PDF)
• Is Survey Research Covered by the Do Not Call Rules?
• What Information Should Survey Researchers Disclose?
• Can Leaked Polls be Trusted?

III. Interested in slightly more in-depth information? 

Take a look at our journalist education program developed in partnership with the Poynter Institute's prestigious News University (NewsU), which is funded by a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.   "Understanding and Interpreting Polls" is a free, interactive course designed to help journalists gain a better understanding of how polls are conducted, what to look for in the methodology and how to determine the legitimacy of a poll.

**************************************************************************

updated June 23, 2008