A critical review of the Delphi technique as a research methodology for nursing

Delphi technique is an approach used tu gain consensus among a panel of exp erts. This is normally achieved through a series of rounds where informatio n is fed back to panel members using questionnaires. It has been used exten sively within social science research and is being increasingly employed by nurse researchers. This popularity has meant that the technique has been a dapted in various ways and there is the possibility that the rigour associa ted with the original format has been threatened. This signals the need for a critical review of the Delphi as a robust and systematic approach to dat a collection. While there is a great volume of literature surrounding the ' Delphi', there is a dearth of papers critically analysing the technique. Th is paper aims: to examine critically the Delphi technique from a range of p erspectives. Discussion will focus on problems of definition and the advant ages and disadvantages and the techniques' application in nursing. The crit ique will be structured through an analysis of the key aspects of the Delph i process. These key aspects include analysis of sampling, anonymity. use o f experts. rounds and application. The critical analysis highlights the inc reasing popularity of the Delphi and the modifications to the process which may cause methodological problems. Ultimately, the Delphi has much to offe r in terms of gaining consensus from a wide range of individuals on specifi c topics. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.