ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a survey of current findings about Delphi. Delphi is the name of a set of procedures for eliciting and refining the opinions of a group of people. The significance of the Delphi technique should be examined in the context of what is called the Advice Community. The Delphi procedures have been designed to reduce the effects of these undesirable aspects of group interaction. The procedure has three distinctive characteristics: Anonymity, Controlled feedback, Statistical "group response." One additional feature of present Delphi procedures should be mentioned. Respondents are requested to make some form of self-rating with respect to the questions. Delphi procedures are still in an experimental stage with regard to applications to the advice process. The evidence is mounting that systematic processing of expert opinion can produce significant improvements both in accuracy and reliability.
