-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 y8FdJInsr8SoYWqwgZrxIQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001005477-03-003194.txt : 20030805
<SEC-HEADER>0001005477-03-003194.hdr.sgml : 20030805
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030805183708
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001005477-03-003194
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030801
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030805

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NATIONAL RESEARCH CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000070487
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-TESTING LABORATORIES [8734]
		IRS NUMBER:				470634000
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			WI
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1245 Q STREET
		CITY:			LINCOLN
		STATE:			NE
		ZIP:			68508
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4024752525

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1245 Q STREET
		CITY:			LINCOLN
		STATE:			NE
		ZIP:			68508

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HAYS MICHAEL
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001053133

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-29466
		FILM NUMBER:		03824748

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O NATIONAL RESEARCH CORP
		STREET 2:		1033 D STREET
		CITY:			LINCOLN
		STATE:			NE
		ZIP:			68508
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4024752525

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O NATIONAL RESEARCH CORPORATION
		STREET 2:		1033 D STREET
		CITY:			LINCOLN
		STATE:			NE
		ZIP:			68508
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar123.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-08-01</periodOfReport>
    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000070487</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NATIONAL RESEARCH CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NRCI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>

        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001053133</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HAYS MICHAEL</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O NATIONAL RESEARCH CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1245 &quot;Q&quot; STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LINCOLN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NE</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>68508</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
        <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
        <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
        <isOther>0</isOther>
        <officerTitle>President and CEO</officerTitle>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>

        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-08-01</value>
        </transactionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
    </transactionCoding>
        <transactionAmounts>

            <transactionShares>
                <value>910</value>
            </transactionShares>

            <transactionPricePerShare>
                <value>11.995</value>
            </transactionPricePerShare>

            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>

            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>4844471</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>

            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>
    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>

        <securityTitle>
            <value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
        </securityTitle>

        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>11.00</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>

        <exerciseDate>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </exerciseDate>

        <expirationDate>
            <value>2013-06-26</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>

            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>

            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>38182</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>

            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>38182</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>

            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>

    </derivativeTable>
    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This option becomes fully exercisable on June 26, 2008.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Russell E. Ryba, Attorney-in-Fact for Michael D. Hays</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-08-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----