| Sumario: | The article focuses on the growing trend in the U.S. regarding the disclosure of poll background data in 1971. In 1969, the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) made a significant addition to its code of professional ethics and practices. It adopted standards for disclosure which suggested that any survey or poll released to the public show in the release, or in an attachment, these items of information: sponsor of the poll or survey; wording of the questions; population sampled; sample size; sampling error; bases for results less than the total sample; method of interviewing; and time of interviewing. The AAPOR membership adopted these standards of disclosure after it had become apparent to many people in and out of the profession that, in order to meet more adequately a researcher's responsibilities to the public, the consumers of poll data required certain essential information about the polling effort. The goal was to enhance the opportunities for those who were interested to evaluate the merit or worth of the survey. This step taken by AAPOR, and the general acceptance of these standards by most reputable polling organizations, has had some beneficial effects. The press has become accustomed to seeing the details about a survey and they now inquire about them when they are not provided. It has made journalists more inquisitive and able to make a better judgment on the validity of a poll result.
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