<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001140361-13-024444.txt : 20130606
<SEC-HEADER>0001140361-13-024444.hdr.sgml : 20130606
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20130606174935
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001140361-13-024444
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20130604
FILED AS OF DATE:		20130606
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20130606

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NATIONAL RESEARCH CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000070487
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-COMMERCIAL PHYSICAL & BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH [8731]
		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 D.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001053133

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-35929
		FILM NUMBER:		13898397

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O NATIONAL RESEARCH CORPORATION
		STREET 2:		1245 Q STREET
		CITY:			LINCOLN
		STATE:			NE
		ZIP:			68508

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	HAYS MICHAEL
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19980115
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc1.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2013-06-04</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 D.</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>CEO</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-06-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>14.15</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5836300</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>375750</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Spouse</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>75</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Spouse &amp; Daughter Jt</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1806050</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>62625</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Spouse</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>12</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Spouse &amp; Daughter Jt</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On May 22, 2013, the Issuer completed a recapitalization pursuant to which it, among other things, issued a stock dividend of three shares of class A common stock for each share of then-existing common stock and reclassified each share of its then-existing common stock as one-half of one share of class B common stock.  All fractional shares of class B common stock were cashed-out in the recapitalization.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Shares were sold to The Michael and Karen Hays Grandchildren's Trust Dated March 9, 2009 in return for a promissory note.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Does not include 375,000 shares of class A common stock currently held in a certain GRAT agreement, all or a portion of which will be returned to Mr. Hays over the next two years.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Does not include 375,000 shares of class A common stock currently held in a certain GRAT agreement, all or a portion of which will be returned to Mr. Hays' spouse over the next two years.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Does not include 62,500 shares of class B common stock currently held in a certain GRAT agreement, all or a portion of which will be returned to Mr. Hays over the next two years.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">Does not include 62,500 shares of class B common stock currently held in a certain GRAT agreement, all or a portion of which will be returned to Mr. Hays' spouse over the next two years.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Russell E. Ryba, Attorney-In-Fact for Michael D. Hays</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-06-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
