The market research and polling fields have some excellent trade associations. These organizations help lobby for the industry, conduct studies on issues relating to research, host in-person events and networking opportunities, and post jobs in the market research field. They also host many excellent online seminars. These organizations establish standards for research projects and codes of conduct for their memberships.

Below is a listing of some of the most influential trade groups for market researchers and pollsters. I would recommend that, at minimum, all researchers should get on the email lists of these organizations, as that allows you to see what events and seminars they have coming up. Many of their online seminars are free.

• ESOMAR. ESOMAR is perhaps the most “worldwide” of all the research trade associations and probably the biggest. ESOMAR was established in 1948 and is headquartered in Europe (Amsterdam). With 40,000 members across 130 countries, it is an influential organization.
• Insights Association. The Insights Association is U.S.-based. It was created in a merger of two longstanding associations: CASRO and MRA. This organization runs many events and has a certification program for market researchers.
• Advertising Research Foundation (ARF). ARF concentrates on advertising and media research. ARF puts on a well-known trade show/conference each year and has an important awards program for advertising research, known as the Ogilvy’s. The ARF is likely the most essential trade organization to be a part of if you work in an ad agency or the media or focus on advertising research.
• Market Research Society. MRS is the U.K. analog to the Insights Association. This organization reaches beyond the U.K. and has some great online courses.
• The American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR). AAPOR is an influential trade group regarding public opinion polling and pre-election polling. They win the award for longevity, as they have been around since 1947. I consider AAPOR to be the most “academic” of the trade groups, as in addition to researchers and clients, they have quite a few college professors as members. They publish Public Opinion Quarterly, a key academic journal for polling and survey research. AAPOR is a small organization with a large impact.
• The Research Society. The Research Society is Australia’s key trade association for market researchers.

Many countries have their own trade associations, and there are some associations specific to particular industries, such as pharmaceuticals and health care.

Below are other types of organizations that are not trade associations but are of interest to survey researchers.

• The Roper Center for Public Opinion Research. The Roper Center is an archive of past polling data, mainly from the U.S. It is currently housed at Cornell University. It can be fascinating to use it to see what American opinion looked like decades ago.
• The Archive of Market and Social Research (AMSR). AMSR is likely of most interest to U.K. researchers. It is an archive of U.K. history through the lens of polls and market research studies that have been collected.
• The University of Georgia. The University of Georgia has a leading academic program that trains future market researchers. This university is quite involved in the market research industry and sponsors many exciting seminars. There are some other universities with market research programs, but the University of Georgia is by far the one that is the most tightly connected with the industry.
• The Burke Institute. The Burke Institute offers many seminars and courses of interest to market research. Many organizations encourage their staff members to take Burke Institute courses.
• Women in Research (WiRe). WiRe is a group that advances the voice of women in market research. This organization has gained significantly in prominence over the past few years and is doing great work.
• Green Book. Green Book is a directory of market research firms. Back “in the day,” the Green Book was the printed green directory used by most researchers to find focus group facilities. This organization hosts message boards, conducts industry studies and seminars.
• Quirk’s. Quirk’s contains interesting articles and runs webinars and conferences.