2016 Annual SAPOR Conference
Dates: Thursday October 6th – Friday October 7th, 2016
Host: City Club Raleigh (formally the Cardinal Club)
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
Abstract Submission Deadline: Friday July 29th, 2016
Public opinion and behavioral research has become increasingly important in our fact-driven world. Policy makers, the business community, and the public demand trend information to make important decisions. At the same time, rapid changes in technology have provided us with the opportunity to meet these demands by developing the latest techniques in the science of public opinion research which harness the research potentials of digital technology.
The membership of the Southern Chapter of AAPOR is nestled in a Southern hotbed of technological and scientific innovation anchored by top universities and global research and development companies. Our membership is involved in developing some of the latest techniques in the science of public opinion research which harness the research potentials of our emergent digital society. At the same time, we are located in a part of the United States experiencing rapid population growth and dramatic political and social changes.
The 2016 Annual SAPOR Conference will encompass the broad scope of public opinion research in today’s world and emerging ways of collecting and using data. SAPOR values new ideas and exploratory research. We welcome professionals and students to debut their research work in an intimate, supportive and collegial setting of Southern hospitality. Papers which explore the social, cultural, political, technological and scientific boundaries of public opinion are encouraged. The conference committee seeks to highlight the edges of scientific, technological and social change in the field which our region represents.
In addition to the wealth of information to be shared by our presenters, we are pleased to announce Dr. Mark Schulman as this year’s keynote speaker. Dr. Schulman is founding partner and chief research officer of Abt/SRBI, and brings the conference more than 30 years of experience in market and public policy research for government, media, foundations, corporations, and financial institutions. He is heavily involved in AAPOR, having served as past President (2002-2003), Conference Chair (2000) and Secretary/Treasurer (1997-98). Dr. Schulman has also taught at several universities, including Hunter College, Queens College, Baruch College, CUNY, and Rutgers University, where he was senior project director of the Eagleton Institute Poll.
His presentation will be entitled “’Who Moved My Cheese?’ Embracing the Shifting Paradigm”
SAPOR will again offer its competitive $250 award for the best student–authored research paper submitted to the conference from anywhere in the United States. This competition is held by the Odum Institute for Research in Social Science (http://www.odum.unc.edu/) at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill in conjunction with the conference. The awarded paper author will be provided the opportunity to present his or her findings at the conference and at the 2017 National AAPOR Conference in New Orleans, LA. In addition, the winner will also have the opportunity to be interviewed on their paper topic for Brian Southwell’s show. All other paper submissions will automatically be considered for conference participation.
SAPOR services Southern states researchers from Texas to Virginia. If this is you, the SAPOR Executive Council encourages you connect with others involved in regional commercial, social and political research through the chapter conference. Join us to gather with friends and colleagues at The City Club Raleigh and enjoy yourself Southern-style. We especially welcome those who may not have been able to travel to Austin, TX for the national conference this year, but still would like to connect with old colleagues and friends and make some new connections.