Qualitative Controlled Feedback for Forming Group Judgments and Making Decisions

Abstract

Abstract We present a new methodology for helping members of a group arrive at carefully reasoned value judgments or decisions. The new procedure, called qualitative controlled feedback, presents each group member with a common question; each member is asked independently for both an answer to the question and for reasons which he feels justify his answer. An intermediary collects all stated reasons and informs all group members of the composite of reasons (but not of the answers). The question is presented to the group members independently again, and the process is repeated until the individual judgments stabilize.