1. The Nominal Group Technique Chapter 42 Research Methodologies

2. Nominal Group Technique The NGT procedure is normally implemented in six stages: The NGT procedure is normally implemented in six stages: Participants are first presented by the session moderator in which an initial statement of the topic area to be discussed Participants are first presented by the session moderator in which an initial statement of the topic area to be discussed They are then directed to reflect individually on the topic They are then directed to reflect individually on the topic The group moderator asks a participant to state one of the responses he or she has arrived at The group moderator asks a participant to state one of the responses he or she has arrived at The next stage involves consolidation and review of the ideas The next stage involves consolidation and review of the ideas They are then requested to establish the relative importance that should be accorded to each of the response ideas They are then requested to establish the relative importance that should be accorded to each of the response ideas The final stage is the compilation of the results The final stage is the compilation of the results

3. Analysis of NGT Data The analysis of NGT data involves both qualitative and quantitative procedures requiring four basic steps: The analysis of NGT data involves both qualitative and quantitative procedures requiring four basic steps: Categorization of initial problem statements into problem themes Categorization of initial problem statements into problem themes Regrouping of problem themes within conceptual model to form major problem dimensions Regrouping of problem themes within conceptual model to form major problem dimensions Calculation of a score or index reflecting the importance of each problem theme Calculation of a score or index reflecting the importance of each problem theme Ranking of problem themes according to their importance index Ranking of problem themes according to their importance index

4. Other Planning Situations Organizational goal setting: Organizational goal setting: The process serves first as a means of eliciting a set of statements defining the mission and objectives of the organization The process serves first as a means of eliciting a set of statements defining the mission and objectives of the organization In both the private and public sectors, once the organizational goals have been defined, the NGT process provides a mechanism for determining the relative priority the top management wishes to accord to the various goals statements that have been proposed In both the private and public sectors, once the organizational goals have been defined, the NGT process provides a mechanism for determining the relative priority the top management wishes to accord to the various goals statements that have been proposed

5. Other Planning Situations cont… Identification and evaluation of alternative courses of action: Identification and evaluation of alternative courses of action: In this situation, NGT can first be used to generate a range of problem or opportunity facing a management team and then can be subsequently employed to rate the perceived effectiveness of the options generated In this situation, NGT can first be used to generate a range of problem or opportunity facing a management team and then can be subsequently employed to rate the perceived effectiveness of the options generated

6. Research Applications of NGT NGT can be adapted for use in the study of most research questions in which individuals are required to generate ideas and to provide some rating of the ideas desirability NGT can be adapted for use in the study of most research questions in which individuals are required to generate ideas and to provide some rating of the ideas desirability A second research application is of NGT is an alternative to the Delphi Technique when attempting to obtain expert consensus on a given research topic A second research application is of NGT is an alternative to the Delphi Technique when attempting to obtain expert consensus on a given research topic

7. Strengths of NGT NGT provides structured output that can be analyzed at an individual level NGT provides structured output that can be analyzed at an individual level The NGT process results in high respondent involvement and commitment The NGT process results in high respondent involvement and commitment The process of identifying and scoring problem themes makes it possible to study both intra- and inter-group differences The process of identifying and scoring problem themes makes it possible to study both intra- and inter-group differences

8. Weaknesses of NGT The major disadvantage of NGT relates to sampling. Because participants have to agree to come to a central meeting location, attempts at probability sampling are met by a serious level of non-response The major disadvantage of NGT relates to sampling. Because participants have to agree to come to a central meeting location, attempts at probability sampling are met by a serious level of non-response

9. Comparison with Focus Group Interviews Focus group interviews: Focus group interviews: The output of the session is relatively unstructured The output of the session is relatively unstructured A small subset of the participants may be outspoken and dominate the rest of the group A small subset of the participants may be outspoken and dominate the rest of the group A highly trained session leader is required A highly trained session leader is required The necessity to bring participants to a meeting room virtually precludes the use of probability sampling procedures The necessity to bring participants to a meeting room virtually precludes the use of probability sampling procedures

10. Comparison with Focus Group cont… Nominal Group Technique: Nominal Group Technique: Shares with focus group the facility for identifying issues relevant to the target consumers Shares with focus group the facility for identifying issues relevant to the target consumers Enables the researcher to identify priorities for each participant Enables the researcher to identify priorities for each participant The structuring and establishing of priorities makes it possible to analyze similarities and differences across multiple NGT sessions The structuring and establishing of priorities makes it possible to analyze similarities and differences across multiple NGT sessions All participants have an equal voice in the session All participants have an equal voice in the session The added structure of NGT sessions simplifies the process of training session leaders The added structure of NGT sessions simplifies the process of training session leaders

11. Comparison with Structured Survey Methods Structured Survey Method Structured Survey Method Ability to cover a large number and range of items Ability to cover a large number and range of items Use of probability sampling Use of probability sampling Structured output that facilitates analysis Structured output that facilitates analysis NGT NGT The advantage of probability sampling is not available The advantage of probability sampling is not available The range of topics that can be covered is reduced The range of topics that can be covered is reduced The problem of establishing items that are relevant to the intended respondents is enhanced The problem of establishing items that are relevant to the intended respondents is enhanced The control of the interview setting is simplified The control of the interview setting is simplified

12. Comparison with the Delphi Method NGT: NGT: The need to physically assemble participants The need to physically assemble participants Delphi Method Delphi Method It allows for more information to be provided to respondents and more time to consider an reflect upon that information prior to making judgments It allows for more information to be provided to respondents and more time to consider an reflect upon that information prior to making judgments Both: Both: They lend themselves to phased research and planning programs in which data are gathered sequentially They lend themselves to phased research and planning programs in which data are gathered sequentially

13. Conclusion To summarize, the NGT process is a systematic approach designed to provide two specific types of output: To summarize, the NGT process is a systematic approach designed to provide two specific types of output: It provides a list of ideas relevant to the topic question It provides a list of ideas relevant to the topic question It provides quantified individual and aggregate measures of the relative desirability of the ideas raised in the session It provides quantified individual and aggregate measures of the relative desirability of the ideas raised in the session