a structured, weighted-ranking method used to generate, discuss, and prioritize a large number of ideas or issues. It is designed to ensure that all participants have an equal voice in the decision-making process. The term nominal refers to the limited direct interaction between participants during the process, which reduces the influence of dominant individuals and helps maintain objectivity. NGT is widely used in research, healthcare, and organizational settings to achieve consensus in a fair and systematic way.
Abbreviation: NGT
Example
An OMERACT working group uses the Nominal Group Technique (NGT) to identify the most important patient-reported outcomes for a new rheumatology instrument. Each participant silently writes down potential outcomes, then shares them in a round-robin format. After clarifying and discussing the items, participants individually rank them, and the group’s collective ranking reveals the top-priority outcomes to take forward.