Consulting the oracle: using Delphi studies
1 November 2023
Autumn 2023
What are the advantages and disadvantages of Delphi studies, and when should they be preferred to other research methods? Jo Waters talks to those who use them.
Delphi studies – named after the ancient Greek oracle at Delphi – have become an established qualitative research method for eliciting a consensus view of a given topic.
The core approach uses a process of anonymous responses from an expert group to identify key themes and issues, and subsequent rounds of responses from the group are used to rank and prioritise these, as well as provide additional rationale and clarification for those rankings (Barrett and Hale, 2020).
Michael Bowen, Director of Research and Knowledge at the College, says Delphi studies were primarily developed as a way of answering questions that would be difficult, or maybe impossible, to answer by other means.
Not already a member of the College?
Start enjoying the benefits of College membership today. Take a look at what the College can offer you and view our membership categories and rates.
Related further reading
On the eve of the 2026 European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) conference in London, The College of Optometrists co-hosted ‘Vision Together: Seeing Differently – Innovation, Collaboration & the Future of Eye Care’.
The College of Optometrists has partnered with Boots Opticians to launch a new fully funded PhD Scholarship to extend the profession's investment in the next generation of optometry researchers.
The College of Optometrists is inviting members and non-members to nominate outstanding researchers for the annual Research Excellence Awards in recognition of those making a significant contribution to optometric research and the future of the profession.