Florence Skelly Altman; Market Researcher

Florence Skelly Altman, 73, who helped develop many techniques that are now standard in opinion research. Skelly, as she was known professionally, developed the use of simulated test markets to gauge the potential of new products. In 1990, the Market Research Council inducted Skelly into its Market Research Hall of Fame. She was a partner in the New York research firm of Yankelovich, Skelly & White. Two years after the firm was sold, the three left to start another company, DYG Inc., an opinion research firm. In Scottsdale, Ariz., on Tuesday of heart disease.