Collaborative grazing land science: using the nominal group technique (NGT) to facilitate decision making

Abstract

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  Rapid changes in science require rapid development of solutions. Working with diverse groups of stakeholders is important for developing robust research programs.
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  Collaborative production (or coproduction) of knowledge can integrate multiple sources of knowledge from stakeholder groups such as farmers and ranchers, service providers, technical advisors, and nonprofit representatives.
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  The nominal group technique (NGT) is one tool in coproduction of knowledge and is a simple and feasible methodology rangeland scientists can adopt in complex decision-making contexts.
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  The Archbold-University of Florida Long-term Agroecosystem Research (LTAR) network used NGT with an advisory council of stakeholder representatives to develop priorities for their research program, particularly high-priority treatments and measurements.
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  Coproduced science identifies potential solutions more quickly than any group working on their own. Researchers can use NGT during collaborative processes to incorporate multiple sources of expert knowledge to create a more complete picture of a given situation.