In the Delphi technique, how are opinions handled to reach consensus?

• A. Outliers are excluded from the analysis to reach consensus
• B. Opinions that vary from the average are asked to justify and the results are summarized to converge toward consensus
• C. All opinions are averaged without discussion
• D. Only the majority opinion is considered

Answer: (B)

Delphi builds consensus by using iterative rounds of expert input with controlled feedback. In each round, participants share their views anonymously, and the group’s responses are summarized and fed back to everyone. When opinions differ from the central view, those experts are asked to justify their positions, and the reasons are included in the summary. This combination of justification, transparent feedback, and re-evaluation prompts experts to reconsider their views in light of the group’s reasoning. Over successive rounds, the responses tend to move closer together, reaching a stable level of agreement or a clear justification for continuing the discussion.

This isn’t about excluding outliers, simply averaging everything, or taking only the majority. It’s about using feedback and argument to bring diverse views toward a common, well-reasoned consensus.