Suitable for
- ✓Estimating the future of a field
- ✓Identifying new trends
A research method that involves gathering opinions and insights from a panel of experts to estimate future trends and developments in a specific field.
The Delphi Method is a structured communication technique used to gather expert opinions and reach consensus on complex issues. Through iterative rounds of anonymous questionnaires, experts provide feedback, and results are summarized and shared in subsequent rounds. The Delphi Method fosters collaboration without the influence of group dynamics, reducing bias. It's widely used in forecasting, policy-making, and research, where collective wisdom can guide decision-making and future planning.
A list of carefully selected experts in the field, who have agreed to participate in the Delphi Method process.
A set of open-ended questions or statements that will be presented to the participating experts, aimed at eliciting their knowledge, opinions, and ideas on the topic of research.
A synthesized, anonymized summary of the answers provided by the experts during the first round. This may include common themes, insights, and areas of divergence.
A refined version of the initial questionnaire that incorporates expert feedback from the first round. This may include more focused questions, quantitatively or qualitatively scaled responses, and areas for experts to rate or rank items.
A synthesized, anonymized summary of the answers provided by the experts during the second round. This may include areas of increased consensus, continued disagreement, and any emerging trends.
The last iteration of the questionnaire that aims to gather expert insights into the areas of agreement, finalize rankings or ratings, and clarify any remaining ambiguities from previous rounds.
A detailed report outlining the final consensus established by the expert panel, including any significant findings or insights, areas of agreement and disagreement, and potential implications or recommendations for the research topic.
Step 1: Select a Panel of Experts
Identify and select a group of experts with diverse knowledge and experience in the topic being researched. Ensure the panel is large enough to mitigate the risks of individual biases and to provide a wide range of perspectives.
Step 2: Develop an Initial Questionnaire
Design a questionnaire that consists of open-ended questions, focusing on the objectives and the required knowledge. Ensure that the questions are clear, concise, and allow for open-ended responses without leading the panelist to a specific answer.
Step 3: Distribute the Questionnaire
Send the questionnaire to the panel of experts. Participants should complete the questionnaire independently and anonymously. Choose an appropriate communication method (e-mail, online survey, etc.), and remember to provide a time frame for the completion of the questionnaire.
Step 4: Collect and Analyze Responses
Once the responses are received, systematically analyze the data, summarize the results, and categorize the answers into themes and patterns. If necessary, triangulate the data with other secondary data to increase the robustness of the results.
Step 5: Develop a Second Iteration of the Questionnaire
Based on the first round of responses, develop a second questionnaire focusing on areas of consensus and major differences. Use the summarized results and panelists' opinions to write clear and concise follow-up questions, and include any relevant background or context.
Step 6: Distribute the Second Questionnaire
Send the second questionnaire to the same panel of experts. Present the summary of round one results, and ask the panelists to review, rethink and revise their initial answers based on the collective opinions of the group.
Step 7: Repeat the Process if Necessary
Repeat steps 4-6 for as many rounds as necessary until achieving consensus, stability in the responses, or information saturation. Typically, the Delphi method involves two to four rounds, but this may vary depending on the specific research objectives.
Step 8: Summarize and Report the Findings
Once consensus is obtained or no new insights are emerging from the iterative process, summarize the final findings, draw conclusions, and present the results in a clear and coherent manner. Be sure to highlight the areas of agreement and the areas of disagreement among the experts.
1 month or more
email, list of experts
1 researcher, 5 or more experts
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