{{more citations needed|date=March 2023}}{{Futures studies}}The '''Delphi method''' or '''Delphi technique''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|d|ɛ|l|f|aɪ}} {{respell|DEL|fy}}; also known as '''Estimate-Talk-Estimate''' or '''ETE''') is a structured communication technique or method, originally developed as a systematic, interactive [[forecasting]] method whichthat relies on a panel of experts.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Dalkey N, Helmer O | year = 1963 | title = An Experimental Application of the Delphi Method to the use of experts | journal = Management Science | volume = 9 | issue = 3| pages = 458–467 | doi=10.1287/mnsc.9.3.458| hdl = 2027/inu.30000029301680 | hdl-access = free }}</ref><ref>{{cite report | vauthors = Brown BB | title = Delphi Process: A Methodology Used for the Elicitation of Opinions of Experts. | publisher = Rand Corp | ___location = Santa Monica CA | date = September 1968 | id = P-3925 | url = https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/citations/AD0675981 }}</ref><ref>{{cite report | vauthors = Sackman H | title = Delphi assessment: Expert opinion, forecasting, and group process. | publisher = The Rand Corporation | ___location = Santa Monica CA | id = R-1283-PR | date = 1974 | url =https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/citations/AD0786878 }}</ref><ref>{{cite report | vauthors = Brown T | title = An Experiment in Probabilistic Forecasting | publisher = The Rand Corporation | ___location = Santa Monica CA | id = R-944-ARPA | date = 1972 | url = https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/citations/AD0777061 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=The Delphi Method: Techniques and Applications |url=http://is.njit.edu/pubs/delphibook/ |year=1975 | veditors = Linstone HA, Turoff M |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080520015240/http://is.njit.edu/pubs/delphibook/ |___location=Reading, Mass. |publisher=Addison-Wesley |isbn=978-0-201-04294-8 |archive-date=2008-05-20 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The technique can also be adapted for use in face-to-face meetings, and is then called '''mini-Delphi'''. Delphi has been widely used for business forecasting and has certain advantages over another structured forecasting approach, [[prediction markets]].<ref name="Green_2008" />
Delphi can also be used to help reach expert consensus and develop professional guidelines.<ref name="Taylor2020"/> It is used for such purposes in many health-related fields, including clinical medicine, public health, and research.<ref name="Taylor2020"/><ref name=Moher2010/>
