Patent ID: 7383251

Claim:
A method for gathering information from a plurality of users associated with a group over a communications network comprising the steps of: (a) storing a plurality of categories of users from whom information is desired in a first database; (b) storing a plurality of topics in a second database; (c) assigning each of the plurality of users to at least one category, the at least one category being selected from the plurality of categories stored in the first database; (d) presenting a plurality of topics to each of the plurality of users via the communications network, the topics presented to each user being applicable to the at least one category to which the user has been assigned; (e) receiving a selection of at least one desired topic from each of the users via the communications network; (f) presenting at least one query to each of the users via the communications network, the at least one query presented to each user being relevant to a corresponding desired topic selected by the user; (g) receiving a response to the at least one query from each of the users via the communications network; (h) storing the response from each of the plurality of users in an electronic storage medium; and (i) allowing a leader to review responses stored in the electronic storage medium, whereby the leader can obtain information relating to opinions and perceptions of the user.