Phase One: Preparation
Preparation is the foundation of every successful Delphi study. This phase involves formulating your research question, developing expert theses, building your panel, and designing your survey—all before launching your first round.
Time required: Typically 2-4 weeks depending on expert recruitment complexity and questionnaire development
A well-prepared Delphi study saves time, ensures methodological rigor, and sets you up for meaningful insights. Whether you're an undergraduate, graduate student, or PhD candidate, investing in this phase will help you complete your research faster and more confidently.
Three Essential Components
The preparation phase breaks down into three critical areas. Each builds on the previous one, so it's important to work through them in sequence.
1. Research Design
Formulate your research question and develop strong Delphi theses that experts will evaluate.
2. Expert Panel
Build a diverse, qualified panel of experts who will provide the insights for your study.
3. Survey Design
Design your questionnaire with proper response formats, demographics, and analysis planning.
Quick Reference: Key Steps
Here's a high-level overview of the preparation workflow. For detailed guidance on each area, visit the dedicated pages linked above.
Research Design
- Formulate a clear, focused research question
- Conduct comprehensive literature review
- Develop provocative, well-grounded Delphi theses
- Validate through expert interviews or workshops
Expert Panel
- Define clear expert selection criteria
- Ensure diversity across key dimensions
- Recruit 20-30% more than needed (account for dropouts)
- Document panel composition and justification
Survey Design
- Choose appropriate response formats (Likert, probability, etc.)
- Include demographic questions for subgroup analysis
- Plan sentiment capture methods
- Pilot test before launching
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
❌ Vague Research Questions
Be specific about what you want to know. "What do you think about AI?" is too broad. Instead: "Which AI applications will transform healthcare delivery by 2030?"
❌ Poorly Developed Theses
Theses that are too vague, too technical, or leading will produce weak data. Each thesis should be clear, provocative, and neutral.
❌ Insufficient Expert Recruitment
Always recruit more than you need. Expect 20-30% dropout across rounds. Also ensure your panel is truly diverse, not just a homogeneous echo chamber.
❌ Missing Demographic Questions
Forgetting to collect stakeholder metadata means you cannot conduct subgroup analysis later. Plan ahead for every comparison you might want to make.
❌ Overly Long Questionnaires
Keep each round to 20 minutes max. Longer surveys lead to abandonment and poor-quality responses. Be ruthless about cutting unnecessary questions.
❌ No Pilot Testing
Launching without testing leads to discovered errors mid-study. Always pilot test with 2-3 people to catch issues before your expert panel sees them.
❌ Poor Communication
Set clear expectations about time commitment and provide regular updates. Experts who feel informed and valued are more likely to complete all rounds.
Comprehensive Preparation Checklist
✅ Before Launching Your Study
Research Design
- ☐Research question clearly defined and focused
- ☐Literature review completed
- ☐Delphi variant selected and justified
- ☐Consensus criteria predetermined
Theses Development
- ☐Delphi theses developed and refined
- ☐Expert interviews conducted (optional but recommended)
- ☐Theses validated through literature or workshops
Expert Panel
- ☐Expert selection criteria documented
- ☐Panel recruited with 20-30% buffer for dropouts
- ☐Diversity ensured across key dimensions
- ☐Pre-screening interviews completed (recommended)
Survey Design
- ☐Response formats defined (Likert, probability, etc.)
- ☐Stakeholder-identifying questions included
- ☐Sentiment capture methods integrated
- ☐Demographic questions for subgroup analysis added
- ☐Questionnaire pilot-tested and revised
Supporting Materials
- ☐Expert invitation letter prepared
- ☐Informed consent form created
- ☐Clear instructions written
- ☐Timeline and deadlines communicated
- ☐Ethics approval obtained (if required)
Technical Setup
- ☐Platform selected and configured
- ☐Survey tested for functionality
- ☐Data collection and storage systems ready
Ready to Execute?
With preparation complete, you're ready to launch your study and start collecting expert insights.
Next: Execution Phase →