The Delphi method, defined as a technique for constructing a group's communication process so that the process is effective in allowing a group of individuals as a whole to deal with a complex problem, was first used for decision making in 1953.

The technique is based on a structured process for collecting and distilling knowledge from a group of experts by using a series of questionnaires involving controlled opinion feedback. The questionnaires are sent to a preselected, anonymous group of experts and are designed to start and construct a conversation on a problem while allowing the experts to refine their views as they progress. This design is used to create a consensus building process among a group of experts in a given area while removing hampering social interactive behaviors.

Delphi Phases:
  1. Phase 1: Sought community practitioners' views independent of new residents' views
  2. Phase 2: Presented community practitioners with summaries of Phase 1 results. Based on these presentations- further refined the questioning regarding previous topics to see if responses would move toward greater group consensus
  3. Phase 3: Embedded the responses from new residents about aspects which community practitioners did not previously emphasize in Phases 1 and 2 to see if their opinions changed and if their responses moved toward some consensus with those of the new residents

We believe it was important to embed the new residents' perspectives from the research study with the community practitioners' responses. Seeing these perspectives it would likely help community practitioners become more consumer-oriented. This means the community practitioners would consider focusing on addressing the views of new residents' rather than imposing more conventional ideas regarding new resident recruitment and retention.
Community Recruitment and Retention of New Residents

 

Information provided by Community Recruitment and Retention of New Residents: A Study Using a Market Assessment Process

Full 2009 Delphi Information