ESRA special interest groups (SIGs) guidelines

ESRA members are invited to initiate and maintain SIGs. Guidelines for SIGs are listed here.

1. Creating a SIG

An ESRA member wishing to establish a new SIG must email ESRA at info@europeansurveyresearch.org. They must either be a current ESRA member or commit to becoming one if the SIG is approved. The ESRA committee will decide whether the SIG can be established.

2. ESRA SIG Definition

An ESRA SIG is defined as any group of researchers with a shared interest in a topic relating to ESRA’s scope (i.e. survey research) with a commitment for exchange and collaboration on their topic. ESRA encourages the formation of new SIGs. Already existing SIGs can apply to become ESRA SIGs, too. If a SIG is accepted by ESRA, benefits for the SIG include:

• Being listed on the ESRA website
• Sharing news of SIG output on the ESRA website and social media
• Advertising SIG membership and meetings via the ESRA website and social media
• Proposing and promoting SIG related events (e.g. SIG in-person meeting at ESRA conferences at the conference venue with inclusion in the conference programme)
• Organising a SIG session at the biennial ESRA conferences

3. Chair and Co-Chair Responsibilities

Each group must have at least one chair responsible for the following tasks:

i) Annual Planning: Establish yearly goals and objectives aligned with ESRA’s mission. Organise meetings (when needed) to review progress and discuss upcoming activities.

ii) Communication: Submit annual plans to the ESRA Committee for publication on the ESRA website under the interest group’s profile.

iii) Membership Engagement: Recruit new members, manage membership (i.e. using an email list), and encourage active participation. Foster a welcoming and inclusive environment within the SIG. Create opportunities for professional development and networking.

The chairs must be ESRA members (with paid fee).

4.  Research dissemination activities

i) Annual Agenda: organise at least one webinar

ii) Facilitate international collaborations and maintain communication channels for ongoing activities.

5. Contribution to education

The SIG can also contribute to education tasks of ESRA by organising ad-hoc training, such as workshops that go beyond the ESRA conference.

6. Joining criteria and membership liability

Members who wish to join the SIG will have to email the SIG chair(s). The SIG chair is responsible for the group’s adherence to ESRA’s code of conduct. In case of non-adherence, the ESRA Committee will terminate the SIG’s ESRA affiliation and remove all content from the website and other outlets.

7. Communication and Conference

The chairs will liaise with the ESRA communication committee to advertise events and update website group information.

The SIG is strongly advised to contribute to the ESRA conference with at least one session proposal.

8. Budget

Currently, the ESRA committee has decided that there will not be any budget allocated to the SIGs. Hence, they will be self-funded.

9. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)

We strongly encourage that SIG takes EDI into account and take measures to maintain or increase it.