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Use Trends and Methodological Pertinence of Delphi within Educational Research in Ibero-America: A Systematic Review in Scopus

Abstract:

Delphi is considered one of the most effective and reliable subjective- based prognostic methods to theoretically validate scientific results in educational research. This study had as its objective to characterize both the use trend and the degree of compliance with the postulates of the Delphi methodological procedure in the educational research works published in Scopus Quartile Q1 in Ibero- America during the last five years. A documentary inquiry was developed by means of a systematic literature review using a quantitative methodological approach. A search performed in Scopus to this end led to find 572 references and their subsequent analysis according to the PRISMA Statement revealed that thirteen articles met the inclusion criteria. The examination of the selected studies identified a growing trend in the use of the Delphi method administered electronically or online within educational research in Ibero- America over the last five years, which reaffirms its potential as a special case of the general expert judgment method for forecasting and decision- making. In spite of the above, inherent weaknesses appeared in the operation of the methodological procedure concerning the creation of a coordinating group, the criteria for the assurance of panel quality and for a completion based on consensus and stability which have not been fully corrected, thus compromising result reliability and validity levels.