System and method for consensus-based knowledge validation, analysis and collaboration

A consensus-based knowledge validation and analysis system provides a way to increase use of collaboration tools among panels of experts by providing a system for analyzing and validating the responses of such experts to a set of questions. The system uses a set of response data input by a panel of experts with respect to a particular subject matter formatted in accordance with a data model as input. The response data set is used to estimate an empirical point estimate matrix indicative of the amount of agreement in the responses on all items between the panelists. The empirical point estimate matrix is used to estimate the saliency of the subject matter to panelists, the competency of each panelist and a consensus model of correct answers is based on the estimated competency of each panelist and the of responses for each item in the response data set. This consensus model is used to generate a knowledge map to aid visualization of the consensus data and encourage further collaboration and consensus building. The method is implemented in a web-based system that enables users of collaboration tools to send response data sets to the tool via the Internet or virtual private network and to likewise retrieve knowledge maps, panelist information and consensus data. An interactive feature enables users/panelists to collaborate with other panelists using the knowledge map as an interface to one or more collaboration tools such as instant messaging.