As the WAPOR Constitution notes, “Public opinion is a critical force in shaping and transforming society. Properly conducted and disseminated survey research provides the public with a tool to measure opinions and attitudes in order to allow its voices to be heard. ” To further this mission, WAPOR promotes a) “in each country of the world the right to conduct and publish scientific research on what the people and its groups think and how this thinking is influenced by various factors, b) “the knowledge and application of scientific methods in this objective,” c) “the development and publication of public opinion research worldwide,” and d) “international cooperation and exchange among academic and commercial researchers, journalists and political actors, as well as between the representatives of the different scientific disciplines.”

WAPOR promotes these goals through the publication of its professional journal, the International Journal of Public Opinion Research (IJPOR), by organizing its annual conference and various regional seminars, by issuing special reports both independently and along with allied associations, principally the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) and ESOMAR, and through other efforts such as the possible establishment in 2011 of WAPOR’s first regional affiliate, WAPOR Latinoamerica.

IJPOR is the leading international journal in the survey research field and contains seminal articles in the areas of survey research methodology, cross-national, comparative research, mass communications, and related topics. WAPOR’s next annual conference will be in Amsterdam in September, but before that there will be regional seminars in March in Segovia, Spain on “Transnational Connections-Challenges and Opportunities in Communication and Public Opinion Research” and in May the Fourth Latin American Conference on Public Opinion will be held on Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Recent special WAPOR publications include “Standard Definitions: Final Dispositions of Case Codes and Outcome Rates for Surveys” (with AAPOR) and the “ESOMAR/WAPOR Guide to Opinion Polls and Published Surveys.” Other collaborations include UNESCO and the International Sociological Association.

WAPOR’s dues are sensitive to national economic circumstances and are very advantageous to new members coming from developing countries. We also have special rates for students. In the Membership section of this website, you will find more information about membership, including dues and an application form if you are not now a member.

If you have any questions about WAPOR please feel free to contact either the WAPOR Secretariat (renae@wapor.org) or me (smitht@norc.uchicago.edu).

Tom W. Smith
WAPOR President