Abstract: A method for independently electronically collecting related market survey data from a plurality of diverse locations (6,6') for temporary storage at each of the independent diverse locations (6,6') where the data is collected for subsequent transmission thereof from these locations (6,6') over a telephone type link (30,36,42) for accumulative processing thereof at a remote central electronic data processor. An interactive interchangeable prompt message display is displayed on a visual display device (32) indicating one of a plurality of market survey categories in a predefined sequence. An actual data input signal may be provided via a keyboard (70) or barboard (29) and/or wand (18,28) in response to the prompt message display with this input being stored in a memory (16) for subsequent transmission. Prior to storage in the memory (16), the data is stored in a buffer and is displayed on the display device (32) to enable confirmation prior to transfer to the bulk memory (16).

Abstract: A method .[.for.]. independently electronically .[.collecting.]. .Iadd.collects .Iaddend.related market survey data from a plurality of diverse locations (6,6') for temporary storage at each of the independent diverse locations (6,6') where the data is collected for subsequent transmission thereof from these locations (6,6') over a telephone type link (30,36,42) for accumulative processing thereof at a remote central electronic data processor. An interactive interchangeable prompt message display is displayed on a visual display device (32) indicating one of a plurality of market survey categories in a predefined sequence. An actual data input signal may be provided via a keyboard (70) or barboard (29) and/or wand (18,28) in response to the prompt message display with this input being stored in a memory (16) for subsequent transmission.