Delphi versus NGT

Compare and Contrast of Delphi and the Nominal Group Technique (NGT):

Both methods offer an evaluation methodology that differs in the fact that the Delphi method relies on expert assessment while NGT uses the learner's evaluation perspective. Within the NGT approach, all participants have an equal say in creating both the rank and ordering evaluation items. This allows the NGT course evaluations to identify both the positive and negative factors as identified by learners as well as the entire group’s rank-ordered assessments of the course's good and bad aspects. The NGT approach is more socialistic in nature by combining administration of an assessment tool (questionnaire) with an open discussion forum among the learners to assess and rank the results of the assessment findings. A benefit to this approach is that it permits the possibility of equal involvement by all group members minimizing the potential of disproportionate influence by overt or passionate individuals. However in open forums, it tends to be easier to provide positive feedback then negative feedback. This is especially true when disconcerted opinions are offered against the what may appear to be the general consensus of the group. Additionally, learners tend to be less critical and more positive when it comes to offering overall opinions. Moreover, when learners are critical, they may fail to account for cost or logistical issues that may be significant constraints. The Delphi research technique provides addresses areas where there are holes or section of incomplete knowledge about a phenomena. Delphi also implements a quantitative methodology. While Delphi it implements a quantitative method like NGT, it refines the questionnaires implementing several iterations to target specifics of the area of research.  

The two forces that would influence that use of one technique over the other is the knowledge level of the research area prior to investigation and the expertise of the evaluation target audience for sampling purposes.

If I were looking to explore a new innovation or idea I would tend to gravitate toward Delphi because of the numerous unknowns that typically accompany new innovations. I might explore a modified Delphi with more open collaboration I were looking for both market level insight as well as technical subject matter expertise.

References

Skulmoski G, Hartman F, Krahn J (2007). The Delphi method for graduate research. Journal of Information Technology Education; 6: 1– 21.

Dobbie A, Rhodes M, Tysinger J, Freeman J (2004). Using a modified nominal group technique as a curriculum evaluation tool. Family Medicine 36: 402–406

Open Data applied to Medical research Data

http://www.ted.com/talks/john_wilbanks_let_s_pool_our_medical_data.html

John Wilbanks in his video proposes a logical extension to the concept of open data as applied to personal medical data. While open data typically supports data of a non-contextual origin, John Wilbanks poses the question, " What if medical or genomic experimental data on human were cleansed of all personal identifiable information than released to the world-wide research community?  Information related to medical research subjects requires informed consent and an extremely rigid process protecting the rights of test subjects and their respective privacy, However, John Wilbanks contends that this same rigid process is actually impacting our ability to extract information in a timely and efficient manner. Fundamentally, data collected from small samples can hide information that may be exposed in much larger samples. However, under current research guidelines, raw data collected for cancer research cannot be shared with researchers investigating DNA hereditary defects. However, what would happen if research subjects were asked if there data could be used for other areas if all personal data was removed?  One approach proposed by Mr. Wilbanks is to use a Portable Legal Consent for Common Genomics Research (PLC-CGR). This is essentially  an experimental bioethics protocol allowing for research subjects to consent to allow research subjects to accept that once the primary experiment is over, their data can be used  anonymously in other forms of research. This would essentaillly great repositories of big data where patterns may emerge that were hidden in the realms of smaller pools of  research data.

Gesture Based Computing

Gesture-based computing allows users to interact in a virtual realm. Rather than simple voice or pictorial interactions, gesture-based computing allows for personal gesturing and natural human like interactions between individuals. We as a class are beginning to use this technology through developing and using avatars within Second-Life (SL). However, I think that this technology is still in its infancy as it is difficult to do activities beyond simple movement. However, applications such as SL are making significant in-roads into normalizing this technology. While there may be numerous examples of how this technology could have benefits, I also see problems with this as well.  We already see examples where kids and adults alike develop near addictions with numerous games on X-Box, WII etc.. Gesture-based applications could easily fall into this realm of "escapism" for a large number of both kids and adults. As new forms of input devices are developed that provide greater levels of interactive look and feel, the potential for abuse increases significantly.

References

Johnson, L., Adams, S., and Cummins, M. (2012).

The

NMC Horizon Report: 2012 Higher Education Edition. Austin, Texas:The New Media Consortium.

David