The present invention relates to a method for identifying a solid solution ceramic material of a plurality of perovskite compounds which exhibits an electric field induced strain derived from a reversible phase transition, as well as a method for making such ceramic materials and ceramic materials obtainable therefrom. In particular, the present invention is directed to a method of identifying a solid solution ceramic material of at least three perovskite compounds which exhibits an electric field induced strain derived from a reversible phase transition; said method comprising the steps of: i) determining a molar ratio of at least one tetragonal perovskite compound to at least one non-tetragonal perovskite compound which, when combined to form a solid solution, provides a ceramic material comprising a major portion of a tetragonal phase having an axial ratio c/a of greater than 1.005 to 1.04; and ii) determining a molar ratio of at least one additional non-tetragonal perovskite compound to the combination of perovskite compounds from step i) at the determined molar ratio which, when combined to form a solid solution, provides a ceramic material comprising a major portion of a pseudo-cubic phase having an axial ratio c/a of from 0.995 to 1.005 and/or a rhombohedral angle of 90±0.5 degrees.