The latest Public Opinion Quarterly Presidential Address from AAPOR President Jordon Peugh highlights the critical role that public opinion and survey research play in helping society understand itself. Published on August 7, 2026, the address reflects on growing challenges facing the research community, including pressures on federal statistical agencies, threats to research funding, and increasing skepticism toward evidence-based data. The article underscores how surveys, statistics, and public opinion research create an enduring record of how people think, live, and experience the world, providing essential information for policymakers, organizations, and the public.

The address also emphasizes the importance of collaboration across government, academia, nonprofit organizations, and the private sector in advancing rigorous and transparent research. Looking ahead, it highlights the role of AAPOR in supporting methodological innovation, professional standards, and emerging topics such as artificial intelligence in survey research. Throughout the piece, Peugh calls on the research community to continue strengthening the systems that produce reliable evidence, while supporting the researchers and institutions dedicated to ensuring the public’s voice is accurately measured and understood.