Standard Definitions is a work in progress; this is the third major edition. The American Association for Public Opinion Research plans to continue updating it, adding comparable definitions for other modes of data collection and making other refinements. AAPOR also is working with other organizations to further the widespread adoption and utilization of Standard Definitions. AAPOR is seeking the cooperation of companies that provide computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) software. Some of these companies already have agreed to incorporate the definitions and formula into their software reports. AAPOR also is asking academic journals to use AAPOR standards in their evaluation and publication of articles; several, including Public Opinion Quarterly and the International Journal of Public Opinion Research, already have agreed to do so.
The first edition (1998) was based on the work of a committee headed by Tom W. Smith.Other AAPOR members who served on the committee include Barbara Bailar, Mick Couper, Donald Dillman, Robert M. Groves, William D. Kalsbeek, Jack Ludwig, Peter V. Miller, Harry O’Neill, and Stanley Presser. The second edition (2000) was edited by Rob Daves, who chaired a group that included Janice Ballou, Paul J. Lavrakas, David Moore, and Smith. Lavrakas led the writing for the portions dealing with mail surveys of specifically named persons and for the reorganization of the earlier edition. The group wishes to thank Don Dillman and David Demers for their comments on a draft of this edition. The third edition (2004) was edited by Smith who chaired a committee of Daves, Lavrakas, Daniel M. Merkle, and Couper. The new material on complex samples was mainly contributed by Groves and Mike Brick. The current fourth edition was edited by Smith who chaired a committee of Daves, Lavrakas, Couper, Shap Wolf, and Nancy Mathiowetz. The new material on Internet surveys was mainly contributed by a subcommittee chaired by Couper with Lavrakas, Smith, and Tracy Tuten Ryan as members.