The nominal group technique (NGT), a needs assessment methodology that can be effective in many situations related to marketing education, is used to identify and collect information in a small group setting. It is a special purpose group process appropriate for identifying elements of a problem situation, identifying elements of a solution program, and establishing priorities. The NGT process involves five steps: introduction to meeting, silent generation of ideas in writing, round-robin listing, discussion for clarification, and ranking of items. NGT applications for marketing education include assessing needs for inservice training, training within marketing occupational areas, training for marketing education students, and marketing education program development. The report includes a practical example of how the NGT can be used in a research study related to the services that a local merchants' association could offer its members to facilitate problem solving. Phase one of the study involves using the NGT to identify major problems faced by member businesses and to identify services that can be offered to help them. Phase two involves using a survey to reaffirm Phase one data. The study demonstrates how the two methods can complement one another and provide for strong research design. (YLB)