NCJ Number
198490
Journal
Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies & Management Volume: 25 Issue: 4 Dated: 2002 Pages: 762-769
Editor(s)
Lawrence F. Travis III
Date Published
2002
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This paper provides an overview of the Delphi method, a method of structuring and facilitating group communication, with the intent that police managers and administrators will identify its applications in relationship to policy planning and development and program planning.
Abstract
The Delphi method is a group decision-making method that structures and facilitates group communication focusing on a complex problem and coming to a consensus on achieving some future direction. This method deserves serious consideration by police organizations desiring to forecast the future regarding policing or administration. The Delphi method can lead to useful findings for policy makers and program managers. This paper provides a brief history of the Delphi method; a description of the main characteristics of the Delphi method; a comparison of the Delphi to other group decision-making methods, such as the nominal group technique (NGT) and interacting group method (GM); the four key planning and execution activities for designing and conducting a Delphi study: problem definition, panel selection, determining panel size, and conducting Delphi rounds; and methodological issues, such as sample design issue, and reliability and validity issues. References