Method, apparatus, and computer-readable media for a web-based opinion survey factory

Abstract

Web-based opinion survey method, apparatus, and computer-readable media operable to cause propositional function responses to be provided to a survey server from a client device. The propositional functions are P(x), where P and x are the predicate and subject. Each P(x) is evaluated in the client device for subjects, each with a different x. Preferably, the client device displays the subjects within a Web Single Page Application (SPA) running on the client device. Preferably, the SPA displays a nonnumerical scale, the granularity of which is directly proportional to the number of pixels spanned by the scale. For each P(x), the client device displays labeled markers along the scale, to provide an indication of a level of agreement with the expressed P(x). For each P(x) subject, the client expresses an opinion on a position on the scale, whereby a pixel position corresponds to a rating for the selected subject.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Web-based opinion survey server apparatus operable to cause a plurality of propositional function responses to be provided from at least one client device, the propositional functions expressed as P(x), where P and x are respectively the predicate and the subject of said P(x), where each said P(x) is evaluated in the at least one client device for a plurality of subjects, each with a different value of x, wherein said predicate and said plurality of subjects are pre-configurable on the at least one survey server, the at least one survey server comprising:
 at least one memory storing program code: and   at least one processor executing said program code to cause the at least one survey server to perform at least one process for each said P(x), comprising:
 causing the at least one client device to display on at least one client device display the each P(x) plurality of subjects, within a Web Single Page Application (SPA) running on the at least one client device; 
 causing said SPA to display on the at least one client device display a non-numerical scale of which a measure of granularity is directly proportional to the number of pixels spanned by said scale; 
 for each P(x) plurality of subjects, causing the at least one client device to display on the at least one client device display a plurality of pre-configurable labeled markers along said scale to provide an indication on said scale of a relative level of agreement with, or preference for, the proposition expressed by the corresponding P(x); 
 for each P(x) plurality of subjects, causing the at least one client device to enable at least one client to express opinion on a position on said scale using at least one input device of the at least one client device, whereby a pixel position corresponding to the position of the client input selection comprises a rating for the selected subject; and 
 for each P(x) plurality of subjects, recording said ratings in the at least one survey server at least one memory. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising the at least one client device. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the scale consists essentially of a line. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the scale is absent indicia of differing scale values. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein for each P(x) plurality of subjects, the at least one survey server receives from the at least one client device the evaluations for all subjects performed on the at least one client device. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus, according to  claim 5 , wherein said at least one processor to execute program code to cause the at least one survey server to perform multiple regression analysis on said evaluations of said P(x) plurality of subjects, whereby:
 said evaluations comprise values of a dependent variable;   said subjects correspond to profiles comprising combinations of features, whereby each feature comprises an independent predictor variable, the values of which are expressed numerically;   said evaluations employ a pre-determined algorithm to select a new set of said profiles, based on the results of said multiple regression analysis; and   said evaluations provide said selected set of new profiles to said at least one client device.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one survey server downloads to the at least one client device code which causes the at least one client device to enable the at least one client to express opinion on the position on said scale using at least one input device of the at least one client device, whereby a pixel position corresponding to the position of the client input selection comprises a rating for the selected subject. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein for any one of said P(x) plurality of subjects, performance of the evaluation occurs in the at least one client device. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein for any one of said P(x) plurality of subjects, the performance of the evaluation occurs only in the at least one client device. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus, according to  claim 3 , wherein the reception of ratings from the at least one client device for any P(x) enables said survey server to compute a Net Promoter Score (NPS) for said P(x). 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus, according to  claim 3 , wherein the reception of ratings from the at least one client device enables said survey server to compute a measure of “brand loyalty” for a selected subject among any of said P(x) plurality of subjects. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus, according to  claim 3 , wherein the reception of ratings from the at least one client device enables said survey server to compute a measure of “open-mindedness”, or conversely of “rigidity”, for each of said P(x) plurality of subjects. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus, according to  claim 1 , wherein the reception of ratings from the at least one client device for any P(x) enable said survey server to establish, for the purpose of normative comparison of a new product/service concepts to an incumbent offering, different categories into which individual respondents are grouped according to the position on the scale of their ratings for said incumbent offering relative to their ratings for said new product/service concept. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus, according to  claim 1 , wherein the non-numerical scale in which the measure of granularity is directly proportional to the number of pixels spanned by said scale comprises at least one color. 
     
     
         15 . Web-based opinion client device apparatus operable to cause a plurality of propositional function responses to be provided from the client device to at least one web-based survey server, the propositional functions expressed as P(x), where P and x are respectively the predicate and the subject of said P(x), where each said P(x) is evaluated in the at least one client device for a plurality of subjects, each with a different value of x, wherein said predicate and said plurality of subjects are pre-configurable on the at least one survey server, the client device comprising:
 at least one client device display;   at least one client device input;   at least one memory storing program code: and   at least one processor executing said program code to cause the client device to perform at least one process for each said P(x), comprising:
 to display on the at least one client device display the each P(x) plurality of subjects, within a Web Single Page Application (SPA) running on the client device; causing said SPA to display on the at least one client device display a non-numerical scale of which a measure of granularity is directly proportional to the number of pixels spanned by said scale; 
 for each P(x) plurality of subjects, causing the client device to display on the at least one client device display a plurality of pre-configurable labeled markers along said scale to provide an indication on said scale of a relative level of agreement with, or preference for, the proposition expressed by the corresponding P(x); 
 for each P(x) plurality of subjects, causing the client device to enable at least one client to express opinion on said scale using the at least one client device input, whereby a pixel position corresponding to the position of the client input selection comprises a rating for the selected subject; and 
 for each P(x) plurality of subjects, forwarding said ratings to the at least one survey server. 
   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , further comprising the at least one survey server. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the scale consists essentially of a line. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the scale is absent indicia of differing scale values. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein for any one of said plurality of P(x), the client device sends to the at least one survey server a plurality of survey evaluations performed on the client device. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the client device receives from the at least one survey server code which causes the client device to enable the at least one client to express opinion on said scale using at least one input device of the client device, whereby a pixel position corresponding to the position of the client input selection comprises a rating for the selected subject. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein a page displayed on the client device display comprises a palette having at least one of (i) a pre-configurable text label and (ii) an image, and wherein said client device enables the client, for each of said at least one of (i) a pre-configurable text label and (ii) an image selected from said palette, to express opinion by dragging and dropping said at least one of (i) a pre-configurable text label and (ii) an image onto said scale, whereby the pixel corresponding to a drop position comprises the rating for the selected subject, and in response to the drop, the client device causes the dropped at least one of (i) a pre-configurable text label and (ii) an image to be removed from said palette such that indicia is provided that said subject has already been selected. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus according to  claim 21 , wherein the client device display displays, for each rating of said plurality of subjects, a connector attaching the drop position to said at least one of (i) a pre-configurable text label and (ii) an image. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein the client device enables the client to change the rating of any one of said plurality of subjects, using a drag-and-drop function that allows user input selection of said connector, such that said connector and said at least one of (i) a pre-configurable text label and (ii) an image can be dragged-and-dropped onto a new position, establishing a new rating for the selected subject. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus according to  claim 23 , wherein the client device is operable, following initial rating of all of said plurality of subjects and until transition to a new set of propositions P(x), to accumulate the variation in rating or rank order of each subject, due to said new rating for a selected subject. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus according to  claim 24 , wherein the client device is operable to weight said variations in rating or rank order of each subject, according to the elapsed time between successive ratings and a pre-configurable parameter. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus according to  claim 25 , wherein the client device is operable to cause a change in the default sequence of presentation of said each P(x) plurality of subjects, based on the condition that the cumulative variation in ratings or rank ordering of said subjects exceeds a pre-configured threshold. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein for any one of said plurality of P(x), all of the evaluation occurs in the client device. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein for any one of said plurality of P(x), the evaluation in the client device occurs only in the client device. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus, according to  claim 15 , wherein for any P(x) plurality of subjects comprising combinations of features, and for any feature within any said combination of features that cannot be measured numerically, a further P(x) plurality of subjects, comprising a set of qualitative attributes of said feature, are rated as quantitative measures of preference along said scale, said ratings used to establish a numerical value for said attributes. 
     
     
         30 . Web-based opinion survey server method operable to cause a plurality of propositional function responses to be provided from at least one client device, the propositional functions expressed as P(x), where P and x are respectively the predicate and the subject of said P(x), where each said P(x) is evaluated in the at least one client device for a plurality of subjects, each with a different value of x, wherein said predicate and said plurality of subjects are preconfigurable on the at least one survey server, the at least one survey server having at least one memory storing program code, and at least one processor executing said program code to cause the at least one survey server to perform the steps of:
 the at least one client device displaying on at least one client device display the each P(x) plurality of subjects, within a Web Single Page Application (SPA) running on the at least one client device;   the SPA displaying on the at least one client device display a non-numerical scale of which a measure of granularity is directly proportional to the number of pixels spanned by said scale;   for each P(x) plurality of subjects, the at least one client device displaying on the at least one client device display a plurality of pre-configurable labeled markers along said scale to provide an indication on said scale of a relative level of agreement with, or preference for, the proposition expressed by the corresponding P(x);   for each P(x) plurality of subjects, the at least one client device enabling at least one client to express opinion on a position on said scale using at least one input device of the at least one client device, whereby a pixel position corresponding to the position of the client input selection comprises a rating for the selected subject; and for each P(x) plurality of subjects, recording said rating in the at least one survey server at least one memory.   
     
     
         31 . At least one non-transitory computer-readable medium storing program code which causes at least one processor in a Web-based opinion survey server to perform functions operable to cause a plurality of propositional function responses to be provided from at least one client device, the propositional functions expressed as P(x), where P and x are respectively the predicate and the subject of said P(x), where each said P(x) is evaluated in the at least one client device for a plurality of subjects, each with a different value of x, wherein said predicate and said plurality of subjects are pre-configurable on the at least one survey server, the at least one survey server having at least one memory storing said program code, the at least one processor executing said program code to cause the at least one survey server to perform the functions of:
 the at least one client device displaying on at least one client device display the each P(x) plurality of subjects, within a Web Single Page Application (SPA) running on the at least one client device;   the SPA displaying on the at least one client device display a non-numerical scale of which a measure of granularity is directly proportional to the number of pixels spanned by said scale;   for each P(x) plurality of subjects, the at least one client device displaying on the at least one client device display a plurality of pre-configurable labeled markers along said scale to provide an indication on said scale of a relative level of agreement with, or preference for, the proposition expressed by the corresponding P(x);   for each P(x) plurality of subjects, the at least one client device enabling at least one client to express opinion on a position on said scale using at least one input device of the at least one client device, whereby a pixel position corresponding to the position of the client input selection comprises a rating for the selected subject; and   for each P(x) plurality of subjects, recording said rating in the at least one survey server at least one memory.