Reconfiguring Delphi
Reciprocity and Professional Reflection in Qualitative Research Design
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 19479185 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Juan Ochoa (0000-0002-6191-4880, University of Auckland, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 25 |
| Publication date | 2026-01-19 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | International Journal of Qualitative Methods (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1609-4069 • E-ISSN: 1609-4069 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1177/16094069261432366 |
| OpenAlex | W7154722177 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 21 |
This article reflects on the adaptation of the Delphi method within a qualitative, social constructivist paradigm, illustrated through a study of resilience in early childhood education and care (ECEC) in Aotearoa New Zealand. Rather than using Delphi solely as a tool for generating expert consensus, the study reconfigures it as a reciprocal and dialogic process that amplifies practitioners’ situated knowledges and lived experiences. Two iterative rounds combined qualitative depth with selective quantitative tools, enabling the articulation, comparison, and refinement of diverse perspectives on resilience. Methodological decisions such as embedding participants’ contributions into subsequent rounds, incorporating flexible response formats, and sustaining iterative meaning-making fostered sustained engagement and supported reflective consideration of practice. These adaptations positioned participants as co-constructors of knowledge while generating insights relevant to professional practice. The study suggests the potential of Delphi not to impose fixed interpretations but to collaboratively generate nuanced understandings. It contributes to methodological debates by showing how Delphi can be reframed as a reciprocal process that can support professional reflection, highlighting the value of divergence, relationality, and contextual sensitivity in qualitative research design
Delphi method · Dialogic · Process (computing) · Qualitative research · Reciprocal · Reciprocity (cultural anthropology) · Reflection (computer programming) · Reflexivity · Situated · Social constructivism · Children's Rights and Participation · Delphi Technique in Research · Participatory Visual Research Methods
Validating an innovative real-time Delphi approach - A methodological comparison between real-time and conventional Delphi studies
Guidance on Conducting and REporting DElphi Studies (CREDES) in palliative care
The Delphi technique
Defining consensus
Thematic Analysis
The Delphi technique as a forecasting tool
Delphi Technique in Health Sciences
The Delphi Technique in Nursing and Health Research
Consensus measurement in Delphi studies
Reflecting on reflexive thematic analysis
Moving best practice forward
Using the Delphi Method for Qualitative, Participatory Action Research in Health Leadership
| Citations per year | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Highly cited | No |