According to AAPOR, the award was presented to Nie and Rivers for their "efforts to extend the coverage of Web-based surveys to populations not previously connected to the Web (seeking) to remedy a severe weakness of Web surveys." Additionally, AAPOR recognized that their approach combines the traditional strengths of probability sampling with the speed and flexibility of the Internet.

Nie and Rivers adopted probability sampling as the foundation of the research company they co-founded, Knowledge Networks. The company collects survey information via its Internet-enabled Panel, selected via Random Digit Dialling (RDD). This ensures that the panel is a representative sample of all US households, regardless of whether they own computers or use the Internet. Knowledge Networks equips panellists with an Internet appliance as well as free Internet access in return for which the applicant agrees to answer surveys periodically.

According to Douglas Rivers, founder and CEO of Knowledge Networks, "It's a great honour to receive this award from AAPOR which is known for its commitment to the highest standards in survey research. This shows that AAPOR recognizes that Internet data collection can be high quality data collection when it's done correctly."