The Delphi technique: limits and potential from a sociological research experience

Journal title SOCIOLOGIA E RICERCA SOCIALE
Author/s Silvia Cataldi, Barbara Sena, Enrico De Luca, Federica Fusillo
Publishing Year 2022 Issue 2022/127 Language Italian
Pages 21 P. 5-25 File size 218 KB
DOI 10.3280/SR2022-127001
DOI is like a bar code for intellectual property: to have more infomation click here

Below, you can see the article first page

If you want to buy this article in PDF format, you can do it, following the instructions to buy download credits

Article preview

FrancoAngeli is member of Publishers International Linking Association, Inc (PILA), a not-for-profit association which run the CrossRef service enabling links to and from online scholarly content.

Delphi is a technique born in the fifties of the last century that takes advantage of the group to collect opinions and build a consensual representation. Starting from a research experience in the socio-health field on the issue of interprofessional care, the paper aims to propose a methodological evaluation of the technique, highlighting its limits and potential for social research.

  1. A.Acocella (2005), «L’uso dei focus groups nella ricerca sociale: vantaggi e svantaggi», Rasse- gna di Sociologia, 37, pp. 63-81,
  2. I. Acocella, S. Cataldi (2020), Using Focus Groups. Theory, Methodology, Practice, London, Sage.
  3. M. Adler, E. Ziglio (1996), Gazing into the oracle: the Delphi method and its Application to
  4. Social Policy and Public Health, London, Jessica Kingsley.
  5. P. Alderson, V. Morrow (2004), Ethics, Social Research and Consulting with Children and Young People, London, Barnardos.
  6. R.F. Bales (1950), Interaction Process Analysis: A Method for the Study of Small Groups, Chi- cago, Chicago University Press.
  7. S.K. Baxter, S.M. Brumfitt (2008), «Professional Differences in Interprofessional Working»,
  8. Journal of Interprofessional Care, 22, 3, pp. 239-251, DOI: 10.1080/13561820802054655
  9. C. Bezzi, I. Baldini (2006), Il brainstorming, Milano, FrancoAngeli.
  10. M. Bloor, F. Wood (2006), Delphi groups, in M. Bloor, F. Wood, Keywords in Qualitative Meth- ods, London, Sage, pp. 50-50, DOI: 10.4135/9781849209403
  11. D.S. Borden, G. Shaw, T. Coles (2017), «Consensus Building in Social Marketing Campaigns through the Delphi Method», Social Marketing Quarterly, 23, 4, pp. 354-67, DOI: 10.1177/1524500417732772
  12. R. Boulkedid, H. Abdoul, M. Loustau, O. Sibony, C. Alberti (2011), «Using and Reporting the Delphi Method for Selecting Healthcare Quality Indicators: A Systematic Review», PloS One, 6, 6, e20476,
  13. T. Bristol, E.F. Fern (1993), «Using Qualitative Techniques to Explore Consumer Attitudes: Insights from Group Process Theories», Advances in Consumer Research, 20, pp. 444-58.
  14. M. Cardano (2011), La ricerca qualitativa, Bologna, il Mulino.
  15. M. Colombo (1997), «Il gruppo come strumento di ricerca sociale: dalla comunità al focus group», Studi di Sociologia, 35, 2, aprile-giugno, pp. 205-18.
  16. M.R. Couper (1984), «The Delphi Technique: Characteristics and Sequence Model», Advances in Nursing Science, 7, pp. 72-7.
  17. J. Crisp, D. Pelletier, C. Duffield, A. Adams, S. Nagy (1997), «The Delphi Method?», Nurs Res., 46, 2, pp. 116-18, DOI: 10.1097/00006199-199703000-00010
  18. D. D’Amour, M. Ferrada-Videla, L. San Martin Rodriguez, M. Beaulieu (2005), «The Conceptu- al Basis for Interprofessional Collaboration: Core Concepts and Theoretical Frameworks», Journal of Interprofessional Care, 19, 1, pp. 116-31, DOI: 10.1080/13561820500082529
  19. D. D’Amour, I. Oandasan (2005), «Interprofessionality as the Field of Interprofessional Prac- tice and Interprofessional Education: An emerging concept», Journal of Interprofessional Care, 19, 1, pp. 8-20, DOI: 10.1080/13561820500081604
  20. N. Dalkey (2002), Toward a Theory of Group Estimation, in H.A. Linstone, M. Turoff (eds.), The Delphi method: Techniques and applications [electronic version], Newark, New Jersey Institute of Technology, pp. 231-56.
  21. R.G. Fischer (1978), «The Delphi method: A Description, Review, and Criticism», Journal of Academic Libranianship, 4, pp. 64-70.
  22. A.J. Fletcher, G.P. Marchildon (2014), «Using the Delphi Method for Qualitative, Participatory Action Research in Health Leadership», International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 13, 1, pp. 1-18, DOI: 10.1177/160940691401300101
  23. N.H. Goldstein (2002), A Delphi on the Future of the Steel and Ferroalloy Industries, in H.A. Linstone, M. Turoff (eds.), The Delphi method: Techniques and applications [electronic version], Newark, NJ, New Jersey Institute of Technology, pp. 210-26.
  24. C.M. Goodman (1987), «The Delphi Technique: A Critique», Journal of Advanced Nursing, 12, pp. 729-34.
  25. T.J. Gordon, O. Helmer (1964), «Report on a Long Range Forecasting Study», Rand Paper, P-2982, Santa Monica, Rand Corporation.
  26. R.W. Grant (2006), «Ethics and Incentives: A Political Approach», The American Political Sci- ence Review, 100, 1, pp. 29-39.
  27. Green, M. Jones, D. Hughes, A. Willimas (1999), «Applying the Delphi technique in a study of GP’s information requirements», Health and Social Care in the Community, 7, 3, pp. 198-205.
  28. F. Hasson, S. Keeney, H. McKenna (2000), «Research guidelines for the Delphi Survey Tech- nique», Journal of Advanced Nursing, 32, 4, pp. 1008-15.
  29. E. Head (2009), «The Ethics and Implications of Paying Participants in Qualitative Re- search», International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 12, 4, pp. 335-44, DOI: 10.1080/13645570802246724
  30. G.C. Homans (1950), The Human Group, New York, Harcourt.
  31. C. Hsu, B.A. Sandford (2007), «Delphi Technique, Practical Assessment», Research and Evaluation, 12, 10, pp. 1-8, http://pareonline.net/ getvn.asp?v=12andn=10.
  32. I.A. Jillson (2002), The National Drug-Abuse Policy Delphi: Progress Report and Findings to Date, in H.A. Linstone, M. Turoff (eds.), The Delphi Method: Techniques and Applications [electronic version], Newark, New Jersey Institute of Technology.
  33. Y.S. Lincoln, E.G. Guba (1985), Naturalistic Inquiry, Newbury Park, Sage Publications.
  34. H.A. Linstone, M. Turoff (eds.) (1975), The Delphi Method: Techniques and Applications, Reading, Addison-Wesley.
  35. H.A. Linstone, M. Turoff (2002a), I. Introduction, in H.A. Linstone, M. Turoff (eds.), The Delphi Method: Techniques and applications [electronic version], Newark, New Jersey Institute of Technology.
  36. H.A. Linstone, M. Turoff (2002b), IV. Introduction, in H.A. Linstone, M. Turoff (eds.), The Delphi Method: Techniques and Applications [electronic version], Newark, New Jersey Institute of Technology.
  37. K. Loughlin, L. Moore (1979), «Using Delphi to Achieve Congruent Objectives and Aactivities in a Paediatrics Department», Journal of Medical Education, 54, pp. 101-6.
  38. M.R. Lynn, E.L. Laman, S.P. Englebardt (1998), «Nursing Administration Research Priorities: A National Delphi Study», Journal of Nursing Administration, 28, 5, pp. 7-11.
  39. H.P. McKenna (1994), «The Delphi Technique: A Worthwhile Approach for Nursing?», Jour- nal of Advanced Nursing, 19, pp. 1221-25.
  40. R.K. Merton (1957), Social Theory and Social Structure, Glencoe, Free Press.
  41. E. Morrison (1998), The Search for a Method, Luton, University of Luton Press.
  42. M.Q. Patton (1990), Qualitative Evaluation and Research Methods, Newbury Park, Sage, 2nd ed.
  43. D.F. Polit, B.P. Hungler (1997), Essentials of Nursing Research: Methods, Appraisal and Uti- lisation, New York, Lippincott.
  44. H. Sackman (1974), Delphi Assessment: Expert Opinion, Forecasting, and Group Process, Santa Monica, The Rand Corporation, R-1283-PR, April.
  45. D.S. Scheele (2002), Reality Construction as a Product of Delphi Interaction, in H.A. Linstone,
  46. M. Turoff (eds.), The Delphi method: Techniques and applications [electronic version],
  47. Newark, New Jersey Institute of Technology.
  48. R.C. Schmidt (1997), «Managing Delphi Surveys using Nonparametric Statistical Techniques»,
  49. Decision Sciences, 28, pp. 763-74.
  50. Sena (2017), «Professionalization without Autonomy: The Italian Case of Building the Nurs- ing Profession», Professions and Professionalism, 7, 3, e1900, http://dx.doi.org/10.7577/ pp.1900.
  51. N.J. Shariff (2015), «Utilizing the Delphi Survey Approach: A Review», Nursing and Care, 4, 3, pp. 246-52, DOI: 10.4172/2167-1168.1000246
  52. D.W. Stewart, P.N. Shamdasani (1990), Focus Group. Theory and Practice, London, Sage.
  53. H. Strauss, H. Zeigler (1975), «The Delphi Technique and its Uses in Social Science Research»,
  54. Journal of Creative Behaviour, 9, 4, pp. 253-9.
  55. T. Sumsion (1998), «The Delphi Technique: An Adaptive Research Tool», British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 61, 4, pp. 153-6.
  56. H. Tajfel (1974), «Social Identity and Intergroup Behaviour», Social Sciences Information, 13, pp. 65-93.
  57. H. Tajfel, J.C. Turner (1986), The Social Identity Theory of Intergroup Behaviour, in S. Worchel,
  58. W.G. Austin (eds.), Psychology of Intergroup Relations, Chicago, Nelson-Hall.
  59. J.C. Turner (1982), Towards a Cognitive Redefinition of the Social Group, in H. Tajfel (ed.),
  60. Social Identity and Intergroup Relations, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.
  61. M. Turoff (2002a), The Policy Delphi, in H.A. Linstone, M. Turoff (eds.), The Delphi Meth- od: Techniques and Applications [electronic version], Newark, New Jersey Institute of Technology.
  62. M. Turoff (2002b), An Alternative Approach to Cross Impact Analysis, in H.A. Linstone, M. Turoff (eds.), The Delphi Method: Techniques and Applications [electronic version], New- ark, New Jersey Institute of Technology. Who – World Health Organization (2010), Framework for action on interprofessional education and collaborative practice, -- http://whqlibdoc.who.int/HQ/2010/WHO_HRH_HPN_10.3_ eng.pdf, ultimo accesso 8/5/2017.
  63. Who – World Health Organization (2013), «Interprofessional Collaborative Practice in Pri- mary Health Care: Nursing and Midwifery Perspectives», Human Resources for Health Observer, 13, pp. 1-24, -- http://www.who.int/hrh/resources/observer13/en/, ultimo accesso 8/5/2017.
  64. W.H. Young, D. Hogben (1978), «An Experimental Study of the Delphi Technique», Education Research Perspective, 5, pp. 57-62.

Silvia Cataldi, Barbara Sena, Enrico De Luca, Federica Fusillo, La tecnica Delphi: limiti e potenzialità da un’esperienza di ricerca sociologica in "SOCIOLOGIA E RICERCA SOCIALE " 127/2022, pp 5-25, DOI: 10.3280/SR2022-127001