The Annual Award is intended to recognize local members of the Baltimore-Washington area research community, who have (a) made an outstanding contribution to the theory, methods, or applications of survey research, public opinion research, market research, or other related fields, or (b) substantially contributed to the vitality, strength, and spirit of the local research community.

The Student Paper Competition is intended to recognize excellence in scholarly research by area students, and to encourage active student participation in the chapter.