How does the Delphi technique encourage consensus among participants?

• A. Participants fill out a questionnaire and, after hearing one another's replies, are then encouraged to revise their answers. The range of answers are decreased over time.
• B. It relies on public debates to reach consensus.
• C. It uses one expert to decide the final outcome.
• D. It conducts experiments in a lab.

Answer: (A)

The Delphi method relies on structured, iterative feedback among experts to build consensus. Experts answer questions independently through questionnaires, then receive a summary of the group’s responses and reasoning. In subsequent rounds, they reconsider and revise their answers in light of what others have said, all without face-to-face interaction. Because opinions are anonymized and feedback is controlled, individuals aren’t swayed by loud personalities, so the range of responses tends to narrow over time. This gradual convergence toward a shared view is how consensus is encouraged in the Delphi process. Public debates, a single expert making the final call, or lab experiments describe different approaches and don’t capture this iterative, anonymous feedback mechanism.