Useful but no oracle: reflections on the use of a Delphi Group in a multi-methods policy research study

Bloor, Michael John, Sampson, Helen ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5857-9452, Baker, Susan Catherine ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5616-4157 and Dahlgren, Katrin 2013. Useful but no oracle: reflections on the use of a Delphi Group in a multi-methods policy research study. Qualitative Research 10.1177/1468794113504103

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Abstract

Delphi Groups are an increasingly popular method, not least because electronic communications have made it easier to assemble a 'virtual' expert panel, but there have been a number of review articles which have pointed to a lack of rigour. Using an extended case study of a Delphi Group designed to establish agreed policy recommendations and deriving from a project using observational and semi-structured interview methods, this article examines the value of Delphi Groups as part of a mixed method research design. The article includes a narrative of the sequence of events in the Delphi Group's deliberations, a detailed examination of how the group process led to the modification of one draft policy recommendation, a further examination of a contested additional policy recommendation and a list of pragmatic recommendations on the conduct of Delphi Groups in respect of size, composition, recruitment, contestation, timing, closure and scope.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Sustainable Places Research Institute (PLACES) Seafarers International Research Centre (SIRC) Social Sciences (Includes Criminology and Education)
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HM Sociology
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Delphi Group, extended peer review, member validation, multiple methods, policy recommendations
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
ISSN:	1468-7941
Funders:	ESRC
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	30 March 2016
Last Modified:	12 May 2023 19:45
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/52716

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