Handbook on Citizen Engagement: Beyond Consultation - SASANet

Appendix A. An Overview of Public Participation Methods cont’dAppendix A. An Overview of Public Participation Methods (cont’d)Method Description Strengths Limitations Examples• James Fishkin developed themethod in 1988.Deliberative polls were used:Deliberativepolls• Builds on the opinion poll byincorporating element ofdeliberation• Measures what public wouldthink if it was informed andengaged around an issue• Composed of a randomlyselected sample of citizens:• Large or small groups (50 to500+ persons)• Involves polling theparticipants, followed bydiscussion, and finally, pollingthem again.• Provides insights into publicopinions and how peoplecome to decisions• Seeks informed opinions,does not force people toreach consensus• Large, random sample• Changes in responses can beobserved after the deliberativeintervention takes place• Help to measure citizen’svalues and preferences• Small size of individual groupsand their non-intimidatingnature allows for innovativeideas and active participation• Incentives (e.g., honorarium,transportation) are importantrequires a lot of preparationtime• Although sample size is largeand random, ensuringrepresentativeness is difficult• Process requires significantresources and intensive timecommitment for participantsand organizers.• Can be difficult to generateneutral and complete briefingmaterial• In Great Britain for the futureof the National Health Serviceand for policies to reducecriminality.• In Australia for thereconciliation with nativepeoples and the abolition ofmonarchy.• In Denmark for the adoptionof the Euro as nationalcurrency.• In the USA for energy andenvironmental policies.• In 2002, a similar method wasused for the project Listeningto the City : Remember andRebuild to rebuild LowerManhattan.Key references on deliberative polls:Center for Deliberative Democracy. [http://cdd.stanford.edu/polls/index.html].Fishkin JS. The Voice of the People: Public Opinion and Democracy. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1995.Fishkin JS., Luskin RC and Jowell R. “Deliberative Polling and Public Consultation”. Parliamentary Affairs 2000, 53(4) : 657-666.CANADIAN POLICY RESEARCH NETWORKS 53