Public Opinion Analytics Lab (POAL)
@poalab.bsky.social
An academic collaboration between University of Reading, London School of Economics, and University of Southampton, designed to advance the research, teaching, and practice of public opinion and political behaviour measurement and analysis
poal.co.uk
poal.co.uk
"Safeguarding data quality is no longer a single checkpoint but an end-to-end pipeline - one that reallocates substantial resources from sampling to continuous fraud monitoring"
Read our new POAL Methods Brief by @laurenleek.eu on dealing with AI bots in surveys!
Link: www.poal.co.uk/briefai.pdf
Read our new POAL Methods Brief by @laurenleek.eu on dealing with AI bots in surveys!
Link: www.poal.co.uk/briefai.pdf
www.poal.co.uk
November 18, 2025 at 8:04 AM
"Safeguarding data quality is no longer a single checkpoint but an end-to-end pipeline - one that reallocates substantial resources from sampling to continuous fraud monitoring"
Read our new POAL Methods Brief by @laurenleek.eu on dealing with AI bots in surveys!
Link: www.poal.co.uk/briefai.pdf
Read our new POAL Methods Brief by @laurenleek.eu on dealing with AI bots in surveys!
Link: www.poal.co.uk/briefai.pdf
"While testing one dimension at a time can yield simple results, those effects may not generalise to richer, real-world contexts."
Read our new POAL Methods Briefs on Conjoint Experiments from Thomas Robinson!
Link: www.poal.co.uk/research/met...
Read our new POAL Methods Briefs on Conjoint Experiments from Thomas Robinson!
Link: www.poal.co.uk/research/met...
Public Opinion Analytics Lab
The website of the Public Opinion Analytics Lab
www.poal.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 8:47 AM
"While testing one dimension at a time can yield simple results, those effects may not generalise to richer, real-world contexts."
Read our new POAL Methods Briefs on Conjoint Experiments from Thomas Robinson!
Link: www.poal.co.uk/research/met...
Read our new POAL Methods Briefs on Conjoint Experiments from Thomas Robinson!
Link: www.poal.co.uk/research/met...
Reposted by Public Opinion Analytics Lab (POAL)
Tariffs might be the word of 2025.
Given the state of *looks around* we asked: is there demand for tariffs in Europe?
@grahn.bsky.social @katharinalawall.bsky.social @sophiemainz.bsky.social Maria Nordbrandt & I show the answer is a resolute no
@jeppjournal.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1080/1350...
Given the state of *looks around* we asked: is there demand for tariffs in Europe?
@grahn.bsky.social @katharinalawall.bsky.social @sophiemainz.bsky.social Maria Nordbrandt & I show the answer is a resolute no
@jeppjournal.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1080/1350...
A game of tariffs: is there demand for tariffs in Europe?
In April 2025, the United States introduced sweeping tariffs on imports from the European Union and the United Kingdom, raising transatlantic tensions and prompting debate over Europe’s response. T...
doi.org
October 13, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Tariffs might be the word of 2025.
Given the state of *looks around* we asked: is there demand for tariffs in Europe?
@grahn.bsky.social @katharinalawall.bsky.social @sophiemainz.bsky.social Maria Nordbrandt & I show the answer is a resolute no
@jeppjournal.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1080/1350...
Given the state of *looks around* we asked: is there demand for tariffs in Europe?
@grahn.bsky.social @katharinalawall.bsky.social @sophiemainz.bsky.social Maria Nordbrandt & I show the answer is a resolute no
@jeppjournal.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1080/1350...
Reposted by Public Opinion Analytics Lab (POAL)
Nano-targeting is not a persuasive weapon: it is a dissuasion and polarization weapon. New paper out osf.io/preprints/so... with the brilliant Thomas Robinson, @simonhix.bsky.social and @fresejoris.bsky.social – the first to quantify the perverse incentives/inherent democratic dangers of this tech.
OSF
osf.io
October 16, 2025 at 7:45 AM
Nano-targeting is not a persuasive weapon: it is a dissuasion and polarization weapon. New paper out osf.io/preprints/so... with the brilliant Thomas Robinson, @simonhix.bsky.social and @fresejoris.bsky.social – the first to quantify the perverse incentives/inherent democratic dangers of this tech.
A major step forward for large-scale survey research from our own Thomas Robinson & @patricksturg.bsky.social: SOCbot is a powerful AI tool for open-ended survey items—fast, cheap, reduces burden, and tackles longstanding measurement error in social science & labour stats
Paper: tinyurl.com/2yxcbshs
Paper: tinyurl.com/2yxcbshs
OSF
tinyurl.com
October 8, 2025 at 8:55 AM
A major step forward for large-scale survey research from our own Thomas Robinson & @patricksturg.bsky.social: SOCbot is a powerful AI tool for open-ended survey items—fast, cheap, reduces burden, and tackles longstanding measurement error in social science & labour stats
Paper: tinyurl.com/2yxcbshs
Paper: tinyurl.com/2yxcbshs
ESRC-funded PhD @lsegovernment.bsky.social × Campaign Lab: New Ways to Think Political Persuasion (start Sep 2026, 3.5 yrs)
Methods-heavy (experiments/computation)
Topics: multi-stage persuasion, interpersonal mechanisms, AI–voter interactions
📅Apply by 10 Dec 2025: www.lse.ac.uk/study-at-lse...
Methods-heavy (experiments/computation)
Topics: multi-stage persuasion, interpersonal mechanisms, AI–voter interactions
📅Apply by 10 Dec 2025: www.lse.ac.uk/study-at-lse...
LSE Collaborative Studentship with Campaign Lab
LSE Collaborative Studentship with Campaign Lab
www.lse.ac.uk
October 8, 2025 at 8:49 AM
ESRC-funded PhD @lsegovernment.bsky.social × Campaign Lab: New Ways to Think Political Persuasion (start Sep 2026, 3.5 yrs)
Methods-heavy (experiments/computation)
Topics: multi-stage persuasion, interpersonal mechanisms, AI–voter interactions
📅Apply by 10 Dec 2025: www.lse.ac.uk/study-at-lse...
Methods-heavy (experiments/computation)
Topics: multi-stage persuasion, interpersonal mechanisms, AI–voter interactions
📅Apply by 10 Dec 2025: www.lse.ac.uk/study-at-lse...
Reposted by Public Opinion Analytics Lab (POAL)
Are you, or do you know, someone who wants to do a PhD?
Applications are open for full funding (scholarship + maintenance) @sotonpolitics.bsky.social through the @scdtp.bsky.social
Get in touch if you're interested
southcoastdtp.ac.uk/apply/
Applications are open for full funding (scholarship + maintenance) @sotonpolitics.bsky.social through the @scdtp.bsky.social
Get in touch if you're interested
southcoastdtp.ac.uk/apply/
Apply - South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership
Our call for applications for studentships commencing in 2026/27 is now open (from 26th January 2025, 12:00am) The deadline for application is 17:00 GMT 16th Jan 2026. Below are our current applicatio...
southcoastdtp.ac.uk
September 29, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Are you, or do you know, someone who wants to do a PhD?
Applications are open for full funding (scholarship + maintenance) @sotonpolitics.bsky.social through the @scdtp.bsky.social
Get in touch if you're interested
southcoastdtp.ac.uk/apply/
Applications are open for full funding (scholarship + maintenance) @sotonpolitics.bsky.social through the @scdtp.bsky.social
Get in touch if you're interested
southcoastdtp.ac.uk/apply/
Reposted by Public Opinion Analytics Lab (POAL)
Radical right accommodation really does not work.
New paper out with this exceptionally talented team
@katharinalawall.bsky.social @robjohns75.bsky.social @drjennings.bsky.social @sarahobolt.bsky.social @zachdickson.bsky.social @danjdevine.bsky.social & @jack-bailey.co.uk
doi.org/10.31235/osf...
New paper out with this exceptionally talented team
@katharinalawall.bsky.social @robjohns75.bsky.social @drjennings.bsky.social @sarahobolt.bsky.social @zachdickson.bsky.social @danjdevine.bsky.social & @jack-bailey.co.uk
doi.org/10.31235/osf...
September 5, 2025 at 6:50 AM
Radical right accommodation really does not work.
New paper out with this exceptionally talented team
@katharinalawall.bsky.social @robjohns75.bsky.social @drjennings.bsky.social @sarahobolt.bsky.social @zachdickson.bsky.social @danjdevine.bsky.social & @jack-bailey.co.uk
doi.org/10.31235/osf...
New paper out with this exceptionally talented team
@katharinalawall.bsky.social @robjohns75.bsky.social @drjennings.bsky.social @sarahobolt.bsky.social @zachdickson.bsky.social @danjdevine.bsky.social & @jack-bailey.co.uk
doi.org/10.31235/osf...
Reposted by Public Opinion Analytics Lab (POAL)
Thrilled to share this 16-country conjoint experiment with @catherinedevries.bsky.social & @simonhix.bsky.social. We find strong support for majoritarian reforms and tougher legal enforcement, even when paired with policies people dislike. Policy-inelastic institutional preferences exist! A 🧵...
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
journals.sagepub.com
August 22, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Thrilled to share this 16-country conjoint experiment with @catherinedevries.bsky.social & @simonhix.bsky.social. We find strong support for majoritarian reforms and tougher legal enforcement, even when paired with policies people dislike. Policy-inelastic institutional preferences exist! A 🧵...
The full report from our launch event is now available on our website!
It includes key takeaways from our three roundtable discussions on various aspects of public opinion research.
Read it here: publicopinionanalyticslab.github.io/event1_repor...
It includes key takeaways from our three roundtable discussions on various aspects of public opinion research.
Read it here: publicopinionanalyticslab.github.io/event1_repor...
publicopinionanalyticslab.github.io
July 2, 2025 at 3:59 PM
The full report from our launch event is now available on our website!
It includes key takeaways from our three roundtable discussions on various aspects of public opinion research.
Read it here: publicopinionanalyticslab.github.io/event1_repor...
It includes key takeaways from our three roundtable discussions on various aspects of public opinion research.
Read it here: publicopinionanalyticslab.github.io/event1_repor...
Reposted by Public Opinion Analytics Lab (POAL)
Delighted to see the 2nd edition of Foundations of European Politics 🇪🇺 in print! @catherinedevries.bsky.social @sopro.bsky.social @jbslapin.bsky.social
If you teach EU or European politics, you can order an inspection copy here: global.oup.com/ushe/product...
If you teach EU or European politics, you can order an inspection copy here: global.oup.com/ushe/product...
June 19, 2025 at 7:32 AM
Delighted to see the 2nd edition of Foundations of European Politics 🇪🇺 in print! @catherinedevries.bsky.social @sopro.bsky.social @jbslapin.bsky.social
If you teach EU or European politics, you can order an inspection copy here: global.oup.com/ushe/product...
If you teach EU or European politics, you can order an inspection copy here: global.oup.com/ushe/product...
Reposted by Public Opinion Analytics Lab (POAL)
Out now🎉 - Evidence (from distribution analyses and machine learning models on EES 2014-2024 data) of strong similarities and growing convergence in EU public opinion, particularly on economic issues. Common right-ward shifts on immigration, yes - but underlying drivers still vary. shorturl.at/KCx0S
June 20, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Out now🎉 - Evidence (from distribution analyses and machine learning models on EES 2014-2024 data) of strong similarities and growing convergence in EU public opinion, particularly on economic issues. Common right-ward shifts on immigration, yes - but underlying drivers still vary. shorturl.at/KCx0S
"Yes, there is ‘enshittification’ of surveys. But let me be the typical academic and point out that there are also many nuances and solutions"
@laurenleek.eu followed up her previous substack with more insights and ideas on survey quality!
laurenleek.substack.com/p/the-quiet-...
@laurenleek.eu followed up her previous substack with more insights and ideas on survey quality!
laurenleek.substack.com/p/the-quiet-...
The Quiet Collapse of Surveys Part II: adding some nuances
Following up on the previous Substack which identified twin threats for surveys: increases in non-response and bots, this follow-up unpacks the nuances, busts myths, and offers practical fixes.
laurenleek.substack.com
June 16, 2025 at 10:41 AM
"Yes, there is ‘enshittification’ of surveys. But let me be the typical academic and point out that there are also many nuances and solutions"
@laurenleek.eu followed up her previous substack with more insights and ideas on survey quality!
laurenleek.substack.com/p/the-quiet-...
@laurenleek.eu followed up her previous substack with more insights and ideas on survey quality!
laurenleek.substack.com/p/the-quiet-...
Kick-off Meeting and Workshop on AI for Survey Data Collection Methods and Data Analysis — connect and learn from other researchers in this field
📅 Wed 9th July, 10am-4pm
📍UCL IOE, London
Submit your proposal by: Thursday 29th May, 5pm
Link for info and sign up: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
📅 Wed 9th July, 10am-4pm
📍UCL IOE, London
Submit your proposal by: Thursday 29th May, 5pm
Link for info and sign up: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Kickoff Meeting and Workshop on AI for Survey Data Collection Methods and Data Analysis: Registration and Call for Submission
Date: 10am-4pm, Wednesday 9th July
Location: Room 642, Institute of Education (UCL), 20 Bedford Way, London, WC1H 0AL
Organisers: Liam Wright (UCL), David Bann (UCL), and Gabriele Durrant (University ...
docs.google.com
May 22, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Kick-off Meeting and Workshop on AI for Survey Data Collection Methods and Data Analysis — connect and learn from other researchers in this field
📅 Wed 9th July, 10am-4pm
📍UCL IOE, London
Submit your proposal by: Thursday 29th May, 5pm
Link for info and sign up: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
📅 Wed 9th July, 10am-4pm
📍UCL IOE, London
Submit your proposal by: Thursday 29th May, 5pm
Link for info and sign up: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Some sharp insights from our very own @laurenleek.eu on the challenges AI poses to survey quality!
I wrote a new Substack! "The quiet collapse of surveys: fewer humans (and more AI agents) are answering survey questions" laurenleek.substack.com/p/the-quiet-...
The quiet collapse of surveys: fewer humans (and more AI agents) are answering survey questions
I show data on two trends undermining surveys: the collapse of human response rates and the increase of AI agents. I'll also discuss downstream implications and propose some possible solutions.
laurenleek.substack.com
May 20, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Some sharp insights from our very own @laurenleek.eu on the challenges AI poses to survey quality!
Reposted by Public Opinion Analytics Lab (POAL)
Re-upping this -- deadline Wednesday. Please reach out if you you're interested but unsure whether or not your work fits the theme. We can't guarantee a spot for every proposal, but we also really don't want people to self-select out!
Funded workshop at Southampton on the topic of "Public Opinion, Identity, and Security in Europe"!
Workshop will be held on June 16. Please submit your proposals/abstract by May 21. (Please help circulate widely!)
Kamil Zwolski, John Denham, and I are the coordinators of this event.
Workshop will be held on June 16. Please submit your proposals/abstract by May 21. (Please help circulate widely!)
Kamil Zwolski, John Denham, and I are the coordinators of this event.
May 19, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Re-upping this -- deadline Wednesday. Please reach out if you you're interested but unsure whether or not your work fits the theme. We can't guarantee a spot for every proposal, but we also really don't want people to self-select out!
Some snapshots from our event on Friday, where we discussed the future of polling, the challenges ahead, and how AI is shaping survey research. Massive THANK YOU to all panelists for sharing their wisdom with us! Here’s a thread with some key take-aways:
May 19, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Some snapshots from our event on Friday, where we discussed the future of polling, the challenges ahead, and how AI is shaping survey research. Massive THANK YOU to all panelists for sharing their wisdom with us! Here’s a thread with some key take-aways: