In the Delphi Method, inputs are collected separately for what purpose?

In the Delphi Method, inputs are collected separately for what purpose?

• A. To speed up consensus
• B. To prevent influence among participants
• C. To reduce data collection costs
• D. To rely on a single expert

Answer: (B)

Keeping judgments independent and anonymous is the key idea here. In the Delphi Method, experts provide their inputs without seeing others’ responses or knowing who wrote them. This separation prevents dominance by outspoken or highly respected individuals and reduces social pressure to conform. As a result, each participant can share their own assessment honestly, leading to a wider and more diverse set of ideas. Later rounds then summarize the group’s feedback so people can reconsider their views with knowledge of the overall trends, but the initial inputs stay free of influence. This approach improves the reliability and quality of the resulting consensus.

It isn’t primarily about speeding up consensus, reducing data collection costs, or relying on a single expert. It’s about preserving independent, unbiased input from multiple experts to avoid shaping opinions through interpersonal influence.