The Delphi Method: Review and Use in Construction Management Research

Abstract

The Delphi Method is a systematic procedure that is normally employed to achieve a reliable consensus among a selected panel of experts. It can be utilized for different purposes, such as the study or definition of areas of considerable uncertainty and/or a lack of agreed knowledge. Although the method has been used in different fields, few studies have used Delphi in construction research. This could be attributed to the limited awareness of the method, the lack of clear guidance in relation to its operation and the variations in its application. This article, which draws on a review and synthesis of the relevant literature and the authors’ observation and experience of applying the method, critically reviews Delphi, provides guidance into its use, discusses such use in construction management research and demonstrates it through a case study. Furthermore, the article addresses the learning areas/benefits that could be obtained as a result of employing Delphi in students’ research projects through another case study. Such learning areas/benefits could include deep learning; knowledge generation; criticality; skills development; feedback; development of identity and career plans; simultaneous learning and application of research approaches and self-validation; and flexibility, diversity, and efficiency issues.

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