Achieving Consensus Deal with Methodological Issues in the Delphi Technique

Goodarzi, Zahra; Abbasi, Enayat; Farhadian, Homayoun

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	Achieving Consensus Deal with Methodological Issues in the Delphi Technique
Article 49, Volume 8, Issue 2, Spring 2018, Page 219-230 PDF (514.56 K)
Document Type: Original Article
Authors
Zahra Goodarzi¹; Enayat Abbasi ²; Homayoun Farhadian³
¹PhD. Student of Agricultural Extension and Education, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
²Member of scientific board, Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, University of Tarbiat Modares
³PhD. Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
Receive Date: 11 January 2017, Revise Date: 11 August 2017, Accept Date: 11 February 2018
Abstract
Delphi is a powerful technique used to seek answers to appropriate questions. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the Delphi technique as a research method. This paper discusses the scientific merit of the Delphi technique by investigating on 41 studies of Journal of Agricultural Education from 1981 to 2013, and 2 studies of Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology. The results showed that there is no general agreement on using indexes in different rounds of Delphi technique; however, according to the frequencies of using indexes in different studies, the following suggestions are presented. The favourable number of panel of experts is between 10 to 20. Purposive sampling method is used for selecting the panel members. Usually a three rounds of Delphi method is used. One question is designed in round one. Mean and standard deviation indexes are used for passing from round two to round three and agreement level of 70 present is used for achieving expert's consensus in round three.
Highlights
Delphi technique with suggested 3 rounds. 10 to 20 for panel of experts. Agreement level of 70 present for achieving expert's consensus in round three.
Keywords
Consensus level; Delphi Technique; Methodological criticism


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