Concept of health and disease: Delphi technique: practice question

A PSM question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

Try it

PSM · Concept of health and disease: Delphi technique

Sample item

A ministry wants consensus among 40 public health experts in different states on priority indicators for a new programme. The experts answer questionnaires anonymously, a summary of the group's responses is circulated, and they revise their answers over several rounds without ever meeting. Which technique is this?

ABrainstormingBNominal group techniqueCDelphi techniqueDFocus group discussion

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. Delphi technique

The Delphi technique builds consensus through repeated anonymous questionnaires with controlled feedback, so dominant personalities cannot sway the group and experts need not meet. It is used for setting priorities and indicators.

Option by option

A. Brainstorming
Brainstorming is a live, open generation of ideas by a group, without anonymity or repeated rounds.
B. Nominal group technique
The nominal group technique brings participants together in a meeting, where ideas are written silently and then ranked.
C. Delphi technique (correct)
Correct. Anonymous rounds with summarised feedback and no face-to-face meeting define the Delphi method.
D. Focus group discussion
A focus group is a moderated face-to-face discussion among a small group and does not use rounds of anonymous scoring.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

Questions about this PSM question

What is the answer to this PSM question?

The best answer is C, Delphi technique. The Delphi technique builds consensus through repeated anonymous questionnaires with controlled feedback, so dominant personalities cannot sway the group and experts need not meet.

Why is "Brainstorming" not the answer?

Brainstorming is a live, open generation of ideas by a group, without anonymity or repeated rounds.

Why is "Nominal group technique" not the answer?

The nominal group technique brings participants together in a meeting, where ideas are written silently and then ranked.

Why is "Focus group discussion" not the answer?

A focus group is a moderated face-to-face discussion among a small group and does not use rounds of anonymous scoring.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Concept of health and disease: Delphi technique in PSM. It is used for setting priorities and indicators.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Concept of health and disease: Delphi technique?

Practise biostatistics with small calculations until sensitivity, predictive values and risk measures are automatic. Then use the flashcards and the other PSM questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.