WAPOR

The final week of Early-Bird Registration for the 79th Annual Conference of the World Association for Public Opinion Research (WAPOR) is now underway.

From 26–29 October 2026, the international public opinion research community will gather in Mexico City under the theme "Public Opinion Research in an Emerging Multipolar World Order"

Across four days, researchers, practitioners, pollsters, methodologists, data scientists, and institutions from around the world will meet to present new research, exchange methodological and theoretical perspectives, and discuss the changing conditions under which public opinion is formed, measured, and interpreted.

Early-Bird Registration closes on 25 August. Regular registration rates will apply from 26 August onward.

Registration includes conference sessions, training workshops, the welcome reception, awards banquet, coffee breaks, and lunches throughout the conference.

If you are planning to join us in Mexico City, this is the final week to register at the Early-Bird rate.

Learn more at https://wapor.org/events/annual-conference/current-conference/registration/

We look forward to welcoming the WAPOR community to Mexico City.

As we begin our week, we would like to invite our community to explore this open-access International Journal of Public Opinion Research paper tackling a very interesting question: how does knowing LGBT people shape public attitudes toward LGBT-inclusive education?

In “The rainbow connection: le***an, gay, bisexual, transgender social networks and support for le***an, gay, bisexual, transgender–inclusive education in the United States”, researchers use nationally representative, probability-based survey data to examine the relationship between Americans’ LGBT social networks and their views on LGBT-related issues in schools.

The study finds that respondents who have LGBT individuals in their social networks tend to express greater support for LGBT-inclusive scenarios in education. The association is particularly strong among those with LGBT friends, compared with those whose LGBT connections are family members or other social relations.

The authors also find that knowing a transgender person is more strongly associated with support for both LGB- and transgender-related scenarios in schools than having an LGB-only social network.

The results are correlational, yet they offer an important contribution to research on intergroup contact, public opinion, education policy, and LGBT inclusion; especially given the comparatively low levels of reported social exposure to transgender people in the United States.

The article is authored by:

Morgan Polikoff (USC Rossier School of Education)

Nicolas Pardo (USC Rossier School of Education)

Junmin Byon (USC Rossier School of Education)

Ana Saavedra (University of Southern California Center for Applied Research in Education (CARE) USC Dornsife)

Amie Rapaport (University of Southern California Center for Applied Research in Education (CARE) USC Dornsife)

Daniel Silver (University of Southern California Center for Applied Research in Education (CARE) USC Dornsife)

Garland Marshall (University of Southern California Center for Applied Research in Education (CARE) USC Dornsife)

Read the full article in the International Journal of Public Opinion Research at https://doi.org/10.1093/ijpor/edag011

WAPOR 79th Annual Conference | Mexico City, 26–29 October 2026

This October, researchers and practitioners from across the world will gather in Mexico City for the 79th Annual Conference of the World Association for Public Opinion Research.

Across four days, the conference will offer a space to present new research, exchange methodological and theoretical perspectives, discuss the challenges facing public opinion research, and build connections across countries, disciplines, and professional communities.

At a moment when understanding public attitudes and the conditions under which they are formed has become increasingly consequential, international exchange remains at the heart of WAPOR’s mission.

Early bird registration is available for a limited time and will close this 25th of August 2026.

Read our conference program at https://access.wapor.org/program-WAPOR2026.php

Register and learn more at https://wapor.org/events/annual-conference/current-conference/registration/

Mexico City
26–29 October 2026

We look forward to welcoming the WAPOR community.

The WAPOR 2026 Conference Program is now available!

The draft program for the 79th Annual WAPOR Conference, “Public Opinion Research in an Emerging Multipolar World Order," is out and available at https://access.wapor.org/program-WAPOR2026.php

More than 400 participants from over 65 countries are expected to join us in Mexico City, October 26–29, 2026, bringing together a truly international community of scholars and practitioners working at the forefront of public opinion research.

This year’s program engages with some of the defining questions facing our field: the political implications of an increasingly fragmented international order, growing pressures on independent polling, and the transformation of political communication and survey research through AI-generated media and new information environments.

Alongside the scientific program, WAPOR 2026 will feature training workshops, keynote and featured sessions, networking opportunities, the Welcome Reception, and the WAPOR Awards Banquet.

REMEMBER: Early-bird registration ends August 25, 2026 - there's still time to benefit from our discounts!

WAPOR is also grateful to the sponsors and exhibitors supporting this year’s conference: Gallup, D3: Designs, Data, Decisions, Citrus Analytics, PARC, MiraVoice, Afrobarometer, NORC at The University of Chicago, Survey Research Lanka, and Stata.

Additional sponsorship and exhibition opportunities remain available for universities, research centers, foundations, companies, and organizations interested in engaging with the global public opinion research community.

We look forward to welcoming the WAPOR community to Mexico City this October!

As the week draws closer to Friday, today’s takes us back to WAPOR’s webinar "A self-completion survey now. The retirement of face-to-face data collection in ESS"

In this session, Rory Fitzgerald, Director of the European Social Survey (ESS) outlines the reasons for the mode change, presents the new self-completion method and early pre-testing while also showcasing emerging findings from the Round 12 mode experiment of the European Social Survey (ESS); a comparative general social survey, research infrastructure that has been collecting high quality data for the social science community since 2002.

Watch it again at https://youtu.be/yezDS82Bk58?si=rUQqsD3Bi-eO_sLC

August is here, and that means one thing for the global public opinion research community: we're entering the final stretch of WAPOR 2026 Early Bird registration.

From October 26–29, colleagues from around the world will gather in Mexico City for the 79th WAPOR Annual Conference, centered on the theme:

"Public Opinion Research in an Emerging Multipolar World Order."

The conference will bring together researchers, pollsters, survey methodologists, data scientists, practitioners, and institutional leaders from more than 55 countries to discuss the future of public opinion research, methodological innovation, AI, digital transformation, comparative research, and the changing global political environment.

If you're planning to attend, now is the time to register. Early Bird rates are available until August 25, after which standard registration fees will apply.

Whether you're presenting your research, looking to expand your international network, or eager to engage with the latest developments in survey and public opinion research, WAPOR 2026 promises to be an outstanding meeting of the global community.

Learn more about our conference and register at https://wapor.org/events/annual-conference/current-conference/

We are delighted to continue the WAPOR National Representative Series by featuring Ani Lordkipanidze from Georgia. Ani is Senior Research & Business Development Executive at GORBI, Vice President of Gallup International Association, and Lecturer in Research Methods at კავკასიის უნივერსიტეტი - Caucasus University.

When asked why public opinion is so important in a changing global landscape, Ani reflected:

"Every meaningful decision begins with understanding the people it affects. Whether we are developing a new product, designing public policy, or addressing societal challenges, we first need to understand how people think, what they need, what they value, and what they expect. After all, people are at the center of every society, every market, and every institution.

Businesses rely on public opinion because people ultimately decide which products and services succeed. Governments and public institutions need it because effective policies can only be developed when they are grounded in citizens' real concerns, aspirations, and priorities. Public opinion is not simply a reflection of society, it is often the force that drives action, shapes behavior, and inspires change.

That is why public opinion is, in many ways, a form of power. And with that power comes responsibility. As researchers, we have a duty to measure it accurately, represent it honestly, and communicate it responsibly.

Today's information environment makes this responsibility even greater. We live in a world shaped by misinformation, algorithm-driven content, echo chambers, and rapidly evolving digital realities, where perceptions can spread faster than facts and narratives can influence people before they have the opportunity to question them. Distinguishing genuine public opinion from amplified noise has become one of the defining challenges of our profession.

Public Opinion us move beyond assumptions and anecdotes, giving voice to people's authentic experiences, needs, and aspirations. By measuring public opinion with scientific rigor and integrity, we enable better decisions, stronger institutions, and more responsive societies."

Asked about WAPOR's importance for Georgia, Ani shared:

"WAPOR is important for my country because it serves as a bridge between the global public opinion research community and local researchers. WAPOR is a vibrant community where the very people who have shaped the field, those who developed many of these standards, contributed to the literature, and advanced research methodologies continue to actively participate, share their knowledge, and engage in discussions.

For researchers in countries like Georgia, the opportunity to exchange ideas directly with these experts, as well as with colleagues from around the world at different stages of their careers, from students and early-career researchers to professors and leading practitioners is invaluable."

Public opinion is evolving. So are the questions we ask.

From 26–29 October 2026, researchers, pollsters, data scientists, public officials and practitioners from more than 55 countries will gather in Mexico City for the WAPOR 79th Annual Conference.

This year's theme, "Public Opinion Research in an Emerging Multipolar World Order," invites us to examine how geopolitical shifts, technological change and new information ecosystems are reshaping the way we understand societies.

Whether your work focuses on survey methodology, polling, political behaviour, AI, public policy or opinion research, WAPOR offers an opportunity to exchange ideas, build collaborations and engage with a truly global community.

📅 Early Bird Registration is open until 25 August.

We look forward to welcoming you to Mexico City for four days of discussion, networking and innovation in public opinion research.

🔗 Learn more and register today at https://wapor.org/events/annual-conference/current-conference/

The conversations that shape our field begin when people come together.

The 79th WAPOR Annual Conference brings together researchers, practitioners, and public opinion professionals from around the world to exchange ideas, present new research, strengthen international collaborations, and explore the challenges and opportunities shaping our discipline.

Across four days in Mexico City, participants will engage in keynote addresses, panel discussions, paper sessions, workshops, and countless conversations that inspire new perspectives and lasting professional connections.

Whether you're presenting your latest work, discovering methodological innovations, or meeting colleagues who share your interests, WAPOR offers an environment where ideas are refined through dialogue and collaboration.

📍 Join us in Mexico City, October 26–29, 2026.
🎟️ Early Bird registration is available until August 25.

Register with a discount at https://wapor.org/events/annual-conference/current-conference/registration/

We look forward to welcoming you to WAPOR 2026.

One of the enduring questions in public opinion research is whether exposure to opposing viewpoints strengthens democratic tolerance - or reinforces existing divisions.

A new article in the International Journal of Public Opinion Research tackles this question in the context of climate politics:

"From Triggering Reflective Thinking to Causing Backlash: How Experienced Argument Exposure Frequency and Balance Affect Political Tolerance in the Context of Climate Action."

Drawing on a three-wave panel survey across the United States, Germany, and Spain, the authors examine whether encountering arguments from different sides of the climate debate encourages citizens to reflect more deeply and become more tolerant of those who disagree with them.

Their findings are particularly compelling. While frequent exposure to competing arguments can stimulate reflective thinking, the relationship with political tolerance is far from straightforward. In some contexts (especially in the United States) balanced exposure may even generate backlash effects, highlighting the complex interplay between information environments, polarization, and democratic attitudes.

We at WAPOR thank Quirin Ryffel (Department of Communication and Media Research, University of Universität Zürich, Switzerland) and Thomas Zerback (Department of Social Sciences, University of Düsseldorf, Germany) for this valuable contribution to the literature on political communication and public opinion.

The article is well worth reading for anyone interested in public opinion, deliberation, political tolerance, media effects, and polarization. The paper is open-access, and available at https://doi.org/10.1093/ijpor/edag014