Components of a survey contractor computer 1, a data server 2 under the management of the contractor computer 1, a respondent's personal digital assistant 3, and a survey client computer 4 are connected by wired, wireless, or infrared communications media, e.g., the Internet, or virtual private network. The personal digital assistant 3 is provided with a direction key 301 for cursor movement and data selection through key operation. A survey application 201 is storing survey question data 101, and reply option data 102 that is totally or partially associated with the direction key 301 of the personal digital assistant 3 on the direction basis. The survey application 201 is storing also a reply entry module 202 that determines the reply option selected by moving a cursor using the direction key 301 as the reply for the question. With such a structure, the survey can be conducted with the higher reply efficiency without imposing the burden on respondents both in timewise and moneywise.