What these experts believe and how they communicate those beliefs to each other to reach some form of consensus is what matters in this phase. The Delphi method provides a very practical tool for these goals and it would be considered a tool functioning within an interpretive methodological framework. Although this process is often called the Delphi methodology I believe that it does not provide a broad enough epistemological base to be considered a methodology. It is a series of procedures for conducting a particular style of survey based research and therefore should be considered only a research method. Consequently it is discussed in the part of the proposal on methods.
Assumptions Reflecting on what a person assumes is always a tricky thing.
Self reflection doubly so, but this section is an attempt to identify the assumptions I will be working within for this piece of research. I have also chosen not to work within other methodological paradigms because I think the interpretive is broad enough to include anything of significant value in either the critical or post-structural approaches. I also consider that each of these other methodologies would be to restrictive for the purposes I have set for the research. Working within an interpretive paradigm, I assume that the views of individuals on events and activities are valuable and valid for determining such things as better educational practice and policy. That knowledge is constructed by people but that it in someway reflects 'reality' and that people's constructions are therefore challengeable by 'evidence'.