Developing the e-Delphi system: a web-based forecasting tool for educational research

Introduction The Delphi technique has become a widely used tool in a variety of disciplines (Rowe and Wright, 1999) for measuring and aiding forecasting and decision making since 1960. Dalkey and Helmer (1963) claim that this technique produces a reliable consensus among an expert group by a series of intensive questionnaires interspersed with controlled opinion feedback. Typically, a Delphi study is conducted in a number of rounds. In the first round, a questionnaire is created, sent to panel members to complete and return, and the responses are analyzed. In the next round, a new questionnaire is developed from the previous responses, and then sent to panel members. The aim of the series of questionnaires is to achieve a consensus of opinion by allowing members to re-consider and re-rate their opinions regarding the items in the questionnaire.