Interactive survey and data management method and apparatus

• US 20020120491A1
• Filed: 05/31/2001
• Published: 08/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quality Data Management, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Quality Data Management, Inc.
• Inventors: Nelson, Eugene C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,606,726 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0203 Market surveys; Market polls

Abstract

An interactive survey and data management method and apparatus for collecting and processing survey information in which a questioning series of core item questions is asked of a sample participant and only when a core item response is within a predetermined range a second questioning series of drill-down questions that enable a more focused survey is then asked of the sample participate, otherwise the survey continues with the core item questions. The second questioning series may also contain open-ended questions called verbatims where the survey participant may give a detailed response to further explain an answer.

Claims

1. A system of collecting survey information comprising:

a first questioning series of core item questions developed to support a survey purpose; and

a second questioning series of drill-down questions, wherein each of the drill-down questions is associated with one of the core item questions and one of the drill-down questions is presented only when a response to the associated core item question meets a specified criterion.

2. The system for collecting survey information of claim 1, wherein the system is an automated system.

3. The system for collecting survey information of claim 1, wherein the second questioning series contains at least one verbatim question presented only when a response to a previous question meets a specified criterion and wherein a detailed response to the verbatim question may be given to further explain the response to the previous question.

4. The system for collecting survey information of claim 3, wherein the system includes a device for recording a response to a verbatim question literally.

5. A method of collecting and managing survey data comprising the steps of:

presenting a first core item question and recording a response to the first core item question;

interpreting the first core item response;

presenting at least one drill-down question and recording a response to the drill-down question only if the first core item response meets a specified criterion; and

presenting a second core item question and recording a response to the second core item question.

6. A method of collecting and managing survey data of claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

interpreting the response to the drill-down question; and

presenting at least one verbatim and recording a verbatim response if the drill-down response is not within the predetermined acceptable response range.

7. A method of collecting and managing survey data of claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

presenting at least one unrelated verbatim and recording an unrelated verbatim response, wherein the unrelated verbatim does not depend upon a previous response.

11. A method of collecting and managing survey data of claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

presenting a second drill-down question and recording a response to the second drill-down question only if the response to the one drill-down question meets a specified criterion; and

presenting a second core item question and recording a response to the second core item question.

8. A system for use with a data processing system with an attached display and input apparatus comprising:

means for presenting a first series of questions on satisfaction of service or product use to a survey participant;

means for receiving a first series of answers responsive to the first series of questions for the input apparatus;

means for using a first series answer to determine if the answer is within a predetermined satisfactory range, wherein if the participant answers the first series question within the acceptable range, the first series of questions will continue;

means for presenting a second series of questions of at least one drill-down question, wherein a drill-down question is only initially presented when the participant does not answer a first series question within the acceptable range; and

means for receiving a second series of answers responsive to the second series of questions for the input apparatus.

9. An system for use with a data processing system with an attached display and input apparatus as in claim 8, further comprising:

means for using a second series answer to determine if the second series answer is within the acceptable range, wherein if the participant answers the second series question within the acceptable range, the second series of questions will continue;

means for presenting a third series of questions of at least one verbatim question; and

means for receiving a third series of answers responsive to the third series of questions for the input apparatus.

10. An system for use with a data processing system with an attached display and input apparatus as in claim 9, wherein a verbatim is presented when the participant does not answer a second series question within the acceptable range.