Engagement methods
Quantitative methods: Delphi surveys
Description
A Delphi Survey is a structured interactive survey of an identified set of experts involving several rounds of opinion-collecting and analysis. After each survey round, the results are disseminated to the participants and used to inform the next survey. The aim is to try and develop a consensus view about a future of a subject, or if there is no consensus, to identify different scenarios.
When to use
Delphi surveys are particularly useful when bringing experts together to try and forecast future trends, effects, priorities and events around a particular issue.
Strengths
- Can be a useful tool for engaging a wide range of expert opinion
- Interactive nature of the survey means that opinion can be examined in detail and different views tested and discussed
Weaknesses
- Can be difficult to bring together a suitable pool of experts
- The tendency to look for a consensus forecast could mean that minority views are ignored
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