Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
REVIEW ARTICLE
Delphi Technique- A Review
Ramya Balasubramanian, Deepti Agarwal
Abstract
Surveys play a major role in health sciences research. Delphi technique is a kind of detailed survey
having diversified uses in dental research. It is a method for the systematic solicitation and collation of
judgments on a particular topic through a set of carefully designed sequential questionnaires interspersed
with summarized information and feedback of opinions derived from earlier responses. Many important
clinical issues do not yield to randomized clinical trials or to stepwise quantitative data analysis. In such
cases, professionals use their training and personal anecdotal experience to assist decision making in a
variety of practice contexts. In these circumstances, consensus opinion of experts provides a formal
structured process for decision making. Consensus procedures also use the resources of all participants,
commit them to the project, and enhance the future decision-making ability of the group with regard to
resolution of the clinical problem addressed. Delphi process consists of a series of rounds; in each round
every participant worked through a questionnaire which has to be returned to the researcher who
collected, edited, and returned to every participant, a statement of the position of the whole group and the
participants own position about the research issue. Every participant reassesses their initial judgments
about the information provided in previous iterations. This article aims at describing the methodology of
Delphi technique.
Keywords: Delphi; Survey; Consensus; Expert Opinion.
Introduction
survey
having
diversified
uses
in
dental
designed
making(1).
Delphi
is
to
remove
method
conference
for
the
room
systematic
Balasubramanian et al
domination
Delphi methodology
by
powerful
individuals
and
the
methodology
of
Delphi
Glaser
state-of-the-art
trials
or
to
stepwise
Methods
commonly
used
to
qualitative
experts (1).
Consensus methods
Consensus
technique.
technique,
randomized
overview
Delphi
Methods
17 International Journal of Public Health Dentistry 2012:3(2):16-25. Publishing Division, Celesta software Private Limited
Balasubramanian et al
Traditional survey
Delphi study
Representativeness
sample
Anonymity
Respondents
are
almost
always
anonymous to each other, and often
anonymous to the researcher.
Non-response issues
Attrition effects
Richness of data
of
18 International Journal of Public Health Dentistry 2012:3(2):16-25. Publishing Division, Celesta software Private Limited
Balasubramanian et al
collected
(6).
information
into
well-structured
Theoretically,
be
the
Steps in Delphi
traditionally
open-ended
open-ended
questionnaire
the
Delphi
begins
with
(2).
process
an
The
can
questions.
After
receiving
subjects
reasons
for
remaining
outside
the
19 International Journal of Public Health Dentistry 2012:3(2):16-25. Publishing Division, Celesta software Private Limited
Balasubramanian et al
the
degree
of
consensus
sought
by the
Knowledge
and
competent
within
the
and
seriously
consider
the
to
10
Nomination
Subject selection
highly
Resource
per
category
from
different
time
management
between
iterations,
20 International Journal of Public Health Dentistry 2012:3(2):16-25. Publishing Division, Celesta software Private Limited
Balasubramanian et al
Statistical analysis
dominant individuals
central
dispersion
tendency
and
level
of
which often is
generate
(2,6).
Arriving at conclusion
3. The
additional
ability
to
insights
use
and
statistical
more
analysis
higher (6).
Time requirements
responses (5).
(5).
the
time
management
between
iterations,
Demerits
1. Potential of Low Response Rates: due to the
multiple feedback processes inherent and
integral to the concept and use of the Delphi
process, potential exists for low response
rates
and
striving
to
maintain
robust
technique
can
also
21 International Journal of Public Health Dentistry 2012:3(2):16-25. Publishing Division, Celesta software Private Limited
be
time-
Balasubramanian et al
on
sequential (6,7).
the
results
of
the
first.
Subsequent
opinion:
the
consensus
method,
it
Delphi
tries
to
is
obtain
the
identified
priority
issues
be
like
emerging
infectious
diseases
22 International Journal of Public Health Dentistry 2012:3(2):16-25. Publishing Division, Celesta software Private Limited
and
its
Balasubramanian et al
Conclusion
Kingdom (5).
questions (3).
for
deriving
consensus
regarding
1. Dr. Ramya
Balasubramanian, Senior Lecturer, Department of
Public Health Dentistry, R.V.S Dental College and
Hospital, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India, 2. Dr. Deepti
Agarwal, Senior Lecturer, Department of Public
Health Dentistry, Dr.D.Y.Patil Dental College, Pune,
Maharashtra, India.
Conflict of Interest:
References
1. Cuhls K. Delphi method. Fraunhofer Institute
for
Germany.
http://www.unido.org/fileadmin/import/16959
2011.
Systems
at.
23 International Journal of Public Health Dentistry 2012:3(2):16-25. Publishing Division, Celesta software Private Limited
Balasubramanian et al
~daveg/Chapter3.pdf.
Accessed
on:
February 2011.
University
Available
of
at
Hong
Kong.
documents/newpress.pdf.
February 2012.
Delphi
method
techniques
and
in
nominal
family
Planning
Reprod
CC,
and
Care
2006;32(4):249-252.
6. Hsu
on:
Family
Health
Accessed
group
planning
1-6.
:www.cpu.gov.hk/English/
2008;
Sandford
BA.
Delphi
Practical
2009;8(2).
Assessment,
The
Research
and
Evaluation 2007;12(10):1-8.
7. Gordon
TJ.
Millennium
The
Delphi
Project
Methodology.
14. Chair
method.
Futures
3:1-29.
WA.
National
Public
Health
The
Research
Available
at
January
2000.
National
Public
Health
www.millenium-project.org/millenium/RTD-
Available
Policy
Diseases.
Recommendations
1
61
on
Rare
Available
at:
www.nphp.gov.au
/publications/phpractice/delphi-body.
at:www.eurorids.org/documents/pdf/full_rep
2005;27(7):639-643.
10. Anand
K,
Pandav
Kapoor
SK.
24 International Journal of Public Health Dentistry 2012:3(2):16-25. Publishing Division, Celesta software Private Limited
Balasubramanian et al
Corresponding Author
2002; 38:574-583.
25 International Journal of Public Health Dentistry 2012:3(2):16-25. Publishing Division, Celesta software Private Limited