Survey Disclosure Checklist

In accordance with minimum disclosure requirements of the AAPOR Code of Professional Ethics and Practice, every survey researcher should disclose each of the following elements in any report that is for public release, or be prepared to disclose this information promptly:

Name of the survey sponsor
Name of the organization that conducted the survey
The exact wording of the questions being released, including any preceding instructions or explanations to either the respondent or the interviewer that might reasonably be expected to affect the response
A definition of the population under study. What population is the survey designed to represent?
A description of the sampling frame used to represent this population
An explanation of how the respondents to the survey were selected
An explanation of any eligibility criteria or screening procedures
The total sample size
The method or mode of data collection
The dates and location of data collection
The response rate as calculated according to AAPOR standard definitions, or at a minimum, a sample disposition report so that response rates can be calculated
Estimates of sampling error, if appropriate
A description of how the data were weighted (or a statement that they were not weighted), and any estimating procedures used to produce the final results
If the survey reports findings based on parts of the sample rather than the total sample, then the size of the subgroups reported should be disclosed

AAPOR STANDARD DISCLOSURE FORM -- EXAMPLE
BASIC DISCLOSURE ELEMENTS	DETAILS
Survey sponsor	The ABC Magazine and XYZ Custom Research, Inc.
Survey/Data collection supplier	XYZ Custom Research, Inc.
Population represented	Adults in the United States
Sample size	1,001
Mode of data collection	Telephone (RDD landline and RDD cell phones)
Type of sample (probability/non-probability)	Probability
Start and end dates of data collection	April 3, 2009 to April 7, 2009
Margin of sampling error for total sample	+/- 3.1 percentage points at the 95% confidence level
Margin of sampling error for key subgroups	+/- 4.3 percentage points at the 95% confidence level for people expecting or who already received a tax refund
Are the data weighted?	Yes, to national targets from the CPS and to cell phone estimates by Mediamark, Inc.
Response rate (and how calculated)	15% (AAPOR RR4)
Contact for more information	Susan G. Survey, Director of Polling The ABC Magazine (123) 456-7890, ssurvey@magazine.com
Attach full text of survey questions asked, provide link to website where that information can be accessed or provide information about how the survey content can be obtained.

Approved for posting by AAPOR Council, May 13, 2009