Primary Purpose
Description
The Delphi method is a technique for gathering information from individuals with specialized knowledge about a topic when face-to-face meetings are difficult. A Delphi study can serve two primary purposes. It can uncover the range of opinions among experts, or it can work to facilitate consensus among experts. The process involves collecting questionnaire responses from participants, analyzing responses, and sending the results back to participants for additional feedback. If seeking consensus, subsequent rounds of questionnaires, analysis, and feedback continue until the group reaches agreement.
Delphi panel participants are typically experts on the main topic. The number of panel members should be large enough to gather diverse perspectives, but small enough to be able to analyze and synthesize individual responses. An appropriate size for a Delphi panel might be 30 to 50 experts.
Email is an effective platform for applying the Delphi technique. Using email, a central contact person sends questions and background information to the panel of experts. The panel responds, and the central contact compiles responses into a proposal, set of guidelines, or policy document. They then send the compiled responses back to the panel again for comment. This process continues until the panel reaches consensus.
Outcomes
Delphi processes can lead to agreed sets of guidelines, recommendations, or policies that include input from a large group of relevant experts, even when those experts are spread across the country or world.
Time considerations
A Delphi process typically takes more time than a traditional survey, and typically requires one to two years to complete. While it is not possible to predict from the outset the number of rounds needed, a minimum of three to four rounds is likely.
A Delphi process could be very time intensive for the central point of contact who will be designing the survey instrument, contacting panelists, analyzing responses, refining the questionnaire or product and redistributing to panelists.
Panelists may not need to contribute large amounts of time, though they may need to be available to respond to surveys periodically over a year or more.
Staffing
A Delphi technique may only require a single staff person to administer, but that staff person will need to possess substantial expertise in the development and analysis of survey and/or interview data.
Materials
- Communication technology for sending and receiving surveys (email and/or collaboration software)