Expressed satisfaction with the nominal group technique among change agents

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not policymakers and change agents with differing professional backgrounds and responsibilities, who participated in the structured process of a nominal group in the setting of diverse decision-making and problem-solving conferences, would express satisfaction with the technique used. "Satisfaction" was defined as "the adequate fulfilling of a need," as expressed by participants in nominal group activities. Four conferences at Texas A&M University involving training and decision-making were used to examine the expressed satisfaction of participants with the Nominal Group Technique (NGT) as a tool for identifying and solving problems. They were an international food and water policy conference, a Texas Agricultural Extension Service conference, an English language curriculum conference, and a school principals' conference. The conferences were held between May 1985 and July 1986. The 206 participants were surveyed for expressed satisfaction with the nominal group activities. Analyses of the data concerned with the independent variables were: 1. Previous use of NGT 2. Understanding of the purpose of the NGT 3. Background and profession of participants 4. Participation in other group activities. The dependent variables were the items on the instrument reflecting levels of satisfaction with various aspects of involvement in nominal groups. These "attitude items" were grouped into three theoretical constructs to facilitate comparison of data among the conferences. The constructs were usefulness of the NGT, personal involvement in the NGT, and comparison of nominal groups with other previously used, non-NGT group activities. Phi, Pearson, and Point Bi-Serial correlations were performed on the discrete data to test expressed satisfaction with NGT as affected by the independent variables, as well as by interactions with dependent variables. Participants in all four conferences expressed general satisfaction with the nominal group technique with respect to their personal involvement, the usefulness of nominal groups, and with the nominal group technique as compared with other previously used, non-NGT group activities.