A local-authority specific definition of research: Results from a Delphi study

There is an increasing focus on promoting evidence informed decision making within local government. However, there is a lack of consistency within this setting on how research is defined in the context of evidence for decision making. This lack of consistency presents a challenge for local authority officers in identifying and communicating about research activities and in establishing appropriate research governance and ethics processes.This study aimed to develop a consensus definition of research in a local authority setting.

A Delphi method was used.

Potential definitions of local authority research were identified by the project Steering Committee. These were circulated to the Delphi panel, comprising 60 local authority officers, via an online Round One questionnaire. Round One definitions that achieved high levels of agreement (>75%) from the panel were revised and included in a Round Two questionnaire, circulated to the same panel. Responses from Round Two were taken to an in-person workshop of the project Steering Committee where a consensus definition, reflecting the statements with the highest levels of agreement, was developed.

After two rounds of online questionnaire (with response rates of 80% and 77% respectively), four definition statements which had the highest level of agreement were identified by the Steering Committee for inclusion within the final consensus definition. The format and exact content of the definition was finalised by the Steering Committee to reflect key components of the purpose of research and its process, which were identified as being important by the Delphi panel.

Our definition of local authority research has potential to support the development of a research culture in local authorities. It provides a basis for communicating about research, identifying opportunities for research and for establishing appropriate ethics and governance processes.