The Dephi technique is a method of eliciting and refining judgments. The rationale for the procedures is primarily the age-old adage "Two heads are better than one," when the issue is one where exact knowledge is not available. The procedures have three features: (1) Anonymous response; (2) Iteration and controlled feedback; (3) Statistical group response. These features are designed to minimize the biasing effects of dominant individuals, of irrelevant communications, and of group pressure toward conformity.

In the spring of 1986, a series of experiments were initiated at RAND to evaluate the procedures. The experiments were also designed to explore the nature of the information processes occuring in the Delphi interaction. The experiments were conducted using upper-class and graduate students from UCLA as subjects, and general information of the almanac type as subject matter. Ten experiments, involving 14 groups ranging in size from 11 to 30 members, were conducted. About 13,000 answers to some 350 questions were obtained.