Michael W. Traugott, Ph.D., is a political scientist and survey methodologist and a professor emeritus at the University of Michigan. His research focuses on political communication, public opinion, and the use of polls to make the news. He has served as the president of the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) and the World Association for Public Opinion Research (WAPOR). He received the AAPOR Award for distinguished lifetime achievement as well as the Helen Dinerman Award from WAPOR for his contributions to survey methodology. 

Paul J. Lavrakas, Ph.D., is a research psychologist and methodological research consultant. He was the founding faculty director of survey centers at Northwestern and Ohio State universities and a chief methodologist for Nielsen Media Research, as well as former president of the AAPOR.