US 4,958,284 AGranted

Open ended question analysis system and method

AssigneeThe Npd Group, Inc.

InventorsLawrence C. Bishop, George Ziegler

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Abstract

A method and system for data processing open-ended respondent answers to open-ended questions provides reproducible categorized dynamically variable coding of the open-ended respondent answers to the open-ended questions. The data processor (200) has an updateable retrievable word dictionary fo words stored therein with the open-ended answers comprising words. The open-ended answers are input to the data processor (102,106) and classified (108) into corresponding word types such as keywords, modifiers, skip words, connectors, and negative words, with the combined keywords and associated modifiers forming key phrases. The input words are convered (112) into corresponding binary coded words for providing a binary defined sentence corresponding to the input open-ended respondent answer. The binary defined sentence is scanned and any keywords and associated modifiers are extracted (114) to create a retrievable file comprising key phrases formed from the extracted keywords and associated modifiers, and the keywords per se (116). The key phrases are sorted in the created file (118) and the occurrences of the sorted key phrases are counted and duplicates eliminated in order to provide a net key phrase file (120). The net key phrase file is displayed to the operator (122) who then groups the displayed net key phrases into a coding structure (124) which is stored and can be updated or modified under control of the operator.

Claims51

Dependent claims

A method for processing in a data processor having an associated display means open-ended respondent answers to open-ended questions for providing reproducible categorized dynamically variable coding of said open-ended respondent answers to said open-ended questions, said data processor having a retrievable word dictionary of words stored therein, said open-ended answers comprising words, said method comprising the steps of inputting said words comprising an open-ended respondent answer to said data processor, classifying said words comprising said input open-ended respondent answer into corresponding word types selected from a group of word types comprising keywords, modifier words, skip words, connector words and negative words, said keywords comprising words which are keys to conveying a true meaning of said input open-ended respondent answer, said modifier words comprising words attached to said keywords in said input open-ended respondent answer to form key phrases, said skip words comprising words unimportant to said conveying of said true meaning of said input open-ended respondent answer, said connector words comprising words which are conjunctions which connect said key phrases within said input open-ended respondent answer, said negative words comprising words which turn said key phrases into negative statements in said input open-ended respondent answers;

updating said word dictionary;
converting said words comprising said input open-ended respondent answer into corresponding binary coded words, said word dictionary comprising dictionary words stored as corresponding binary coded words, said converting step comprising the step of converting said input words into said corresponding binary coded words corresponding to said binary coded words stored as said updated dictionary words for providing a binary defined sentence corresponding to said input open-ended respondent answer;
scanning said corresponding binary defined sentence and extracting said keywords and said modifier words associated with said keywords in said corresponding binary defined sentence;
creating a retrievable file comprising key phrases formed from said extracted keywords and said extracted associated modifier words, and said keywords per se;
sorting said key phrases in said created file;
counting occurrences of said sorted key phrases and eliminating duplicates in said sorted key phrases for providing a net key phrase file;
displaying said net key phrase file on said associated display means;
grouping said displayed net key phrases into a coding structure;
and
storing said coding structure in said data processor.

7 more elements

A data processor system for processing open-ended respondent answers to open-ended questions for providing reproducible categorized dynamically variable coding of said open-ended respondent answers to said open-end questions, said data processor system comprising display means for providing a display, means for retrievably storing a dictionary of words, said open-ended answers comprising words;

means for inputting said words comprising an open-ended respondent answer to said data processor;
means for classifying said words comprising said input open-ended respondent answer into corresponding word types selected from a group of word types comprising keywords, modifier words, skip words, connector words and negative words, said keywords comprising words which are keys to conveying a true meaning of said input open-ended respondent answer, said modifier words comprising words attached to said keywords in said input open-ended respondent answer to form key phrases, said skip words comprising words unimportant to said conveying of said true meaning of said input open-ended respondent answer, said connector words comprising words which are conjunctions which connect said key phrases within said input open-ended respondent answer, said negative words comprising words which turn said key phrases into negative statements in said input open-ended respondent answers;
means for updating said word dictionary means for converting said words comprising said input open-ended respondent answer into corresponding binary coded words, said word dictionary comprising dictionary words stored as corresponding binary coded words, said converting means comprising means for converting said input words into said corresponding binary coded words corresponding to said binary coded words stored as said updated dictionary words for providing a binary defined sentence corresponding to said input open-ended respondent answer;
means for scanning said corresponding binary defined sentence and extracting said keywords and said modifier words associated with said keywords in said corresponding binary defined sentence;
means for creating a retrievable file comprising key phrases formed from said extracted keywords and said extracted associated modifier words, and said keywords per se;
means for sorting said key phrases in said created file;
means for counting occurrences of said sorted key phrases and eliminating duplicates in said sorted key phrases for providing a net key phrase file, said net key phrase file being displayable on said associated display means;
means for grouping said displayed net key phrases into a coding structure;
and means for storing said coding structure in said data processor system.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.