Social psychology and pandemics: Exploring consensus about research priorities and strategies using the Delphi method

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to calls for contributions from the social and behavioural sciences in responding to the social and behavioural dimensions of the pandemic. The current two-round Delphi study—involving a panel of 52 professors of social psychology from 25 countries—explored expert opinions and consensus about the contributions that can be made by social psychology and social psychologists, and research priorities and strategies to this end. Responses to open-ended questions presented to the panel in Round 1 were condensed and reformulated into 100 closed-ended statements that the panel rated their agreement with in Round 2. Consensus was reached for 55 topics to which social psychology can contribute, 26 topics that should be prioritised, and 19 strategies that should be implemented. The findings contribute to further focusing research efforts in psychology in its response to the social and behavioural dimensions of the COVID-19 and future pandemics.