creators_name: Gresham, Jon type: thesis datestamp: 2006-03-16 lastmod: 2011-03-11 08:56:21 metadata_visibility: show title: EXPRESSED SATISFACTION WITH THE NOMINAL GROUP TECHNIQUE AMONG CHANGE AGENTS ispublished: unpub subjects: soc-psy full_text_status: public keywords: NGT, Nominal Groups, Nominal Group Technique, Problem-Solving Groups, TAMU, participation, consensus, collaboration, conference participation, change agent, cross-cultural problem-solving, prioritization, Delphi, abstract: Expressed Satisfaction with the Nominal Group Technique Among Change Agents. (December 1986) Jon Neal Gresham 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. date: 1986-12 date_type: published institution: Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas department: Agricultural Education refereed: FALSE referencetext: REFERENCES 1. Amuzegar, Jahangir. Technical _Assistance in Theory and Practice. New York: Praeger, 1966. 2. Arrington, S.F. An Evaluation of the Clinical Psychology Training Program of Virginia Commonwealth University Using Multi-Attribute Utility Measurement. (Doctoral Dissertation, Virginia Commonwealth University) Ann Arbor, MI.: University Microfilms, 1980, No. 8018954. 3. Burton, G.E., et al. "Unleashing the Creative Flow Through NGT." Management World August (1980): 8-10. 4. Delbecq, A., and Van de Ven, A.H. "A Group Process Model for Problem Identification and Program Planning." Journal of Applied Behavioral Science 7 (1971): 466-492. 5. Delbecq, A., Van de Ven, A. H., and Gustafson, D.H. Group Techniques for Program Planning. Glenview, IL: The Scott, Foresman and Company, 1975. 6. Ellzey, M.A. Decision Rules for Application of Program Standards. (Doctoral Dissertation, Florida State University) Ann Arbor, MI: University Microfilms, 1981, No. 8205718. 7. Goodenough, W.H. Culture, Language and Society. Modular Publications No. 7. Reading, MA: Addison Wesley, 1971. 8. Graham, R.J. Project Management: Combining Technical and Behavioral Approaches for Effective Implementation. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1985. 9. Green, T.B. "An Empirical Analysis of Nominal and Interacting Groups." Academy of Management Journal 18 (1975):63-73. 10. Guba, E.G. "Experiments, Studies, Surveys, and Investigations." Mimeo, unpublished class notes. Department of Educational Administration, Ohio State University, ca. 1964. 11. Havelock, R.G. and Havelock, M.C. Training for Change Agents. Ann Arbor, MI: Institute for Social Research, The University of Michigan, 1973. 12. Hegarty, E.H. "The Problem Identification Phase of Curriculum Deliberation: Use of the Nominal Group Technique." Curriculum Studies 9, No. 1 (1977): 31-41. 13. Hegge, M.J. The Relationship Between the Margin of Registered Nurse Students and Their Bureaucratic., Professional and Service Role Conceptions. (Doctoral Dissertation, University of South Dakota), Ann Arbor, MI: University Microfilms, 1983, No. 8325032. 14. Hoyle, J. Personal Interview with the Professor of Educational Administration at Texas A&M University. April 2, 1985. 15. Hoyle, J. "Teacher versus Administrator: a Growing Crisis." Planning and Changing 9 (1978); 203-209. 16.. Lien, R.W. Determining Whether the Lutheran Church in Texas is Addressing or Failing to Address Concerns as Perceived by Its Middle-Aged Constituency. (Doctoral Dissertation, Texas A&M University) Ann Arbor, MI; University Microfilms, 1981, No. 8118279. 17. Newby, J.L. Issues Related to Public Law 94-142: Perceptions of Three Groups of Administrators. (Doctoral Dissertation, Gallaudet College) Ann Arbor, MI: University Microfilms, 1982, No. 8212757. 18. Noorbakhsh, K.S. Adapting Research Methods to Cultural Settings: A Study of the Application of Nominal Group Technique in Iran. (Doctoral Dissertation, University of Pennsylvania) Ann Arbor, MI: University Microfilms, 1982, No. 8307343. 19. 0'Neil, M., and Jackson, L. "Nominal Group Technique: a Process for Initiating Curriculum Development in Higher Education." Studies in Higher Education 8 (1983): 129-138. 20. Oyugi, W.O. Rural Development Administration. New Delhi: Vikas, 1981. 21. Pennsylvania State Department of Community Affairs. The Rural Planning Specialist: A Unique Approach to the Problems of Poverty in Rural America. Harrisburg, PA: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 1973. 22. Richardson, A. Participation. Boston, MA: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1983. 23. Rogers, E.M., and Shoemaker, F.F. Communication of Innovations. New York: Free Press, 1971. 24. Roman, J. Personal Interview with the Deputy Director-General of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture. June 25, 1985. 25. Sanvardine, J.M. The Identification and Validation of Type¬writing Tasks and Evaluative Criteria for Entry-Level Office Employees. (Doctoral Dissertation, Rutgers University) Ann Arbor, MI: University Microfilms, 1982, No. 8214542. 26. Stephenson, B.K., Michaelsen, L.K., and Franklin, S.G. "An Empirical Test of the Nominal Group Technique in State Solar Energy Planning." Group and Organization Studies 7 No. 3, (1982): 320-334. 27. Sullivan, J.J. An Experimental Study of a Method for Improving the Effectiveness of the Nominal Group Technique. (Doctoral Dissertation, University of Florida) Ann Arbor, MI: University Microfilms, 1978, No. 7913319. 28. Swap, W.C., and Associates, Ed. Group Decision Making. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Publications, 1984. 29. Taylor, D.W.L, Berry, P.C., and Block, C.H. "Does Group Participation when Using Brainstorming Facilitate or Inhibit Creative Thinking?" Administrative Science Quarterly 3 (1958): 23-47. 30. Thompson, V. A., and Smithburg, D.W. "A Proposal for the Study of Innovation in Organization." Unpublished paper, Huntsville, AL, University of Alabama, 1968. 31. Van de Ven, A., and Delbecq, A. "The Effectiveness of Nominal, Delphi, and Interacting Group Decision Making Processes." Academy of Management Journal 17 (1974): 605-621. 32. Vedros, K.R. The Nominal Group Technique as a Participatory Planning Method in Adult Education. (Doctoral Dissertation, Florida State University) Ann Arbor, MI: University Microfilms, 1979, No. 7926832. 33. Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary. Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, 1984. 34. Wood, J.R. "Using the Nominal Group Technique to Define Major Issues for Long Range Extension Programs." Unpublished class term paper for AGED 685, Problems, Texas A&M University, Spring, 1986. citation: Gresham, Dr. Jon (1986) EXPRESSED SATISFACTION WITH THE NOMINAL GROUP TECHNIQUE AMONG CHANGE AGENTS. [Thesis] document_url: http://cogprints.org/4767/1/Gresham.pdf