Methods, systems, and computer readable media for dynamically selecting questions to be presented in a survey

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9305059-B1
Application number	US-201213530042-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jun 21, 2012
Priority date	Jun 21, 2011
Publication date	Apr 5, 2016
Grant date	Apr 5, 2016

Abstract

According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method for dynamically selecting questions to be presented in a survey. The method includes providing for assignment of priorities to potential survey questions. The method further includes determining a selection probability for each question based on the assigned priorities. The method further includes storing questions in a database embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium. The method further includes dynamically selecting, from the database and based on the selection probabilities, questions to be included in surveys to be presented to a plurality of individuals such that different individuals are presented with different sets of questions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for dynamically selecting questions to be presented in a survey, the method comprising:
at a computing platform including at least one processor:
providing for assignment of priorities to potential survey questions;
determining a selection probability for each question based on the assigned priorities;
storing questions in a database embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium; and
dynamically selecting, from the database and based on the selection probabilities, questions to be included in surveys to be presented to a plurality of individuals such that different individuals are presented with different sets of questions,
wherein providing for assignment of priorities to the questions includes providing for assignment of priorities to categories and providing for assignment of priorities to individual questions within each category and wherein determining selection probabilities includes calculating the selection probabilities based on the priorities assigned to the categories and on the priorities assigned to the individual questions, wherein the selection probability for each question is calculated by multiplying a category priority weight and an individual question priority weight.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein providing for assignment of priorities to categories includes providing a manipulable graphical depiction of the priorities assigned to the categories.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the manipulable graphical depiction comprises a slider interface where movement of a slider changes the priority assigned to a category, automatically updates priorities assigned to remaining categories, and visually displays the updated priorities.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein providing for assignment of priorities to the questions includes providing a manipulable graphical depiction of the priorities assigned to the questions.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the manipulable graphical depiction comprises a slider interface where movement of a slider changes the priority assigned to a question, automatically updates priorities assigned to remaining questions within a category, and visually displays the updated priorities.

6. The method of claim 1 comprising receiving answers to the questions and automatically updating the selection probabilities based on the answers.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein automatically updating the selection probabilities based on the answers includes decreasing the selection probability for a question based on a metric of variability of the answers.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein automatically updating the selection probabilities includes increasing the selection probability for a question increasing the selection probability for a question based on a metric of variability of the answers.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the questions are directed to one of: finance, politics, public opinion, employee performance, consulting, education, credit card, healthcare, retail, hospitality, or restaurant.

10. A system for dynamically selecting questions to be presented in a survey, the system comprising:
a computing platform including at least one processor, the computing platform comprising:
a questions database configured to store a plurality of potential survey questions stored in a non-transitory computer readable medium;
a priority assignment module for providing for assignment of priorities to the potential survey questions;
a selection probability determination module for determining a selection probability for each potential survey question based on the assigned selection priorities; and
a question selection module for dynamically selecting, from the questions database and based on the selection probabilities, questions to be included in the survey to be presented to each of the plurality of individuals such that different individuals are presented with different questions,
wherein the priority assignment module is configured to provide an interface for an administrator to assign priorities to categories and providing for assignment of priorities to individual questions within each category and wherein determining selection probabilities includes calculating the selection probabilities based on the priorities assigned to the categories and on the priorities assigned to the individual questions, wherein the selection probability for each question is calculated by multiplying a category priority weight and an individual question priority weight.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the interface comprises a manipulable graphical depiction of the priorities assigned to the categories.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the manipulable graphical depiction comprises a slider interface where movement of a slider changes the priority assigned to a category, automatically updates priorities assigned to remaining categories, and visually displays the updated priorities.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein the priority assignment module is configured to provide an interface including a manipulable graphical depiction of the priorities assigned to the questions.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the manipulable graphical depiction comprises a slider interface where movement of a slider changes the priority assigned to a question, automatically updates priorities assigned to remaining questions within a category, and visually displays the updated priorities.

15. The system of claim 10 wherein the selection probability determination module is configured to receive answers to the questions and to automatically update the selection probabilities based on the answers.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the selection probability determination module is configured to decrease the selection probability for a question based on a metric of variability of answers to the question.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the selection probability determination module is configured to increase the selection probability for a question based on a metric of variability of answers to the question.

18. The system of claim 10 wherein the questions are directed to finance, politics, public opinion, employee performance, consulting, education, credit card, healthcare, retail, hospitality, or a restaurant.

19. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon executable instructions that when executed by the processor of a computer control the computer to perform steps comprising:
providing for assignment of priorities to potential survey questions;
determining a selection probability for each question based on the assigned priorities;
storing questions in a database; and
dynamically selecting, from the database and based on the selection probabilities, questions to be included in surveys to be presented to a plurality of individuals such that different individuals are presented with different sets of questions,
wherein providing for assignment of priorities to the questions includes providing for assignment of priorities to categories and providing for assignment of priorities to individual questions within each category and wherein determining selection probabilities includes calculating the selection probabilities based on the priorities assigned to the categories and on the priorities assigned to the individual questions, wherein the selection probability for each question is calculated by multiplying a category priority weight and an individual question priority weight.

Assignees

• Glickman Seth
• Schulman Kevin
• Heard Sara Frances
• Wilkins Amanda Paige Norman
• Univ North Carolina

Inventors

• Glickman Seth
• Schulman Kevin
• Heard Sara Frances
• Wilkins Amanda Paige Norman

Classifications

• G06F17/30522 Primary

  Physics · mapped topic

• G06F16/2457 Primary

  with adaptation to user needs · CPC title

• G16H10/20

  for electronic clinical trials or questionnaires · CPC title

• G06Q30/0203

  Market surveys; Market polls · CPC title