Moving on From the Delphi Study: The Development of a Physical Activity Training Programme Prototype Through...

Area of Science:

• Social Work Research
• Disability Studies
• Qualitative Methodology

Background:

• The Moving Social Work project aims to train social workers in promoting physical activity for disabled individuals.
• Initial evidence gathering for a training program prototype involved a Delphi study with experts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the limitations of a Delphi study in capturing expert opinions for the Moving Social Work project.
• To investigate the value of qualitative research, specifically dialogical inquiry, in complementing consensus-based evidence.

Main Methods:

• A Delphi study was conducted with experts to inform a training program prototype.
• Follow-up co-produced, dyadic, data-prompted interviews were conducted with 10 Delphi participants.
• Dialogical inquiry was employed for framing and co-analyzing interview data.

Main Results:

• Experts found the Delphi study insufficient, desiring deeper conversations.
• Qualitative research, particularly dialogical inquiry, effectively justified, rectified, complicated, clarified, concretized, expanded, and questioned consensus-based evidence.
• Dialogical inquiry was found to support co-produced research practices.

Conclusions:

• Delphi studies alone may not fully capture nuanced expert opinions.
• Qualitative research, especially dialogical inquiry, is crucial for deepening understanding and validating consensus-based findings.
• The findings support the integration of qualitative methods alongside Delphi studies in co-produced research.