Appendix B: Examples of Public Engagement

Transcription

1 Appendix B: Examples f Public Engagement Cntents Backgrund... 2 Bidirectinal Cmmunicatin Engagement... 3 Citizen Advisry Cmmittees... 3 Deliberative Discussins... 4 Scial Media Facilitated Discussins... 5 Demcratic Cmmunity... 6 Unidirectinal Cmmunicatin Engagement... 7 Open Huses (Curts Public)... 7 Surveys (Public Curts)... 8 Fcus Grups r Stakehlder Meetings (Public Curts)... 9 Televting (Public Curts*)

2 Backgrund As nted in the Tlkit, we prvide examples that we hpe will inspire creative and ptentially mre effective appraches t public engagement rather than fcusing n specific definitins f public r cmmunity engagement. 1 Thus, the fllwing examples f public engagement are nt meant t be cmprehensive r cnstraining. The examples prvide infrmatin abut sme f the mre cmmn methds f engagement, and illustrate the differences between engagements that emphasize bidirectinal cmmunicatin and thse that emphasize unidirectinal cmmunicatin between the public and an institutin like the curts. Many ther frms f public engagement are described n websites such as participedia.net and NCDD.rg. As ne explres the varieties f public and cmmunity engagement, keep in mind when engaging vulnerable ppulatins (e.g., minrities, lw incme, yuth, senirs, persns with disabilities) that: Techniques may need t be mdified fr the ppulatin. Fr example, experiential, hands-n activities may be mre apprpriate fr sme ppulatins than thers. Alternative techniques may invlve gaming, art, and using ppulatin representatives t gather data. Culture brkers can be used t ensure techniques are apprpriate fr the ppulatin. Invlvement f ppulatin representatives in the planning stage is crucial t success. Cmpensatin fr participatin may be required t gain access t sme ppulatins. The strengths f such effrts include: Techniques are tailred t the fcus ppulatin. Buy-in t slutins by ppulatin members may increase due t participatin. Culturally sensitive prcesses and slutins may be mre likely. Hwever, the challenges include: Techniques can be cmplicated t plan and execute. The effrts require a champin r smene with access t the ppulatin t be invlved early in and ften thrughut the prcess. Quality f input may be difficult t gauge due t uncertainty abut the representativeness f thse invlved and ptential limitatins n data that might be gathered. 1 See descriptins f public engagement frm multiple disciplinary perspectives. 2

3 Bidirectinal Cmmunicatin Engagement These frms f engagement are mre likely t invlve multi-directinal cmmunicatin between institutins and cmmunities, and are cnsistent with the requirements utlined in the call fr Letters f Interest. Citizen Advisry Cmmittees Cmmittee made up f varius cmmunity and rganizatinal representatives (e.g. frm gvernmental t public) that represent specifically targeted grups. Cmmittee can be asked t deliberate and frm infrmed pinins abut issues after receiving infrmatin. Easy t cnduct. Easy t cntrl using rules established befrehand r as the sessin begins. Mst residents are familiar with this type f input. Useful fr presenting infrmatin and then hearing immediate feedback. Can btain specific input, fr example by asking attendees t vte n ptins r rank rder preferences. When cmmittee meetings are held ver time, there is the pprtunity t btain mre sphisticated and nuanced input. Cmmittee members can draw up reprts and issue recmmendatins as part f prcess. Cmmittees are cmprised f residents r stakehlders wh have vested interests, s their invlvement may nt result in new perspectives. The number f peple invlved is small, which may raise questins abut hw well the public is represented as well as hw much influence they will have. It can be difficult t get peple t make cmmitments and stay invlved in the cmmittees ver a perid f time. Withut facilitatin, the cmmittees may veer ff curse r stp functining. Learn mre: Cmmunity%20Advisry%20Bards%20final%204.pdf (curt-specific verview) 3

4 Deliberative Discussins Aims t give diverse stakehlders a full and fair pprtunity t influence the utcme. Designed t infrm befrehand and have pprtunity fr infrmed participants t prvide input. Briefing materials Baseline surveys Expert presentatins, questins and answers Small-grup discussins Large-grup plenary discussins Pst-event surveys Offers a level playing field fr participants f varying knwledge levels. Avids dminatin by influential and utspken peple. Interesting and enjyable fr participants. Survey infrmatin reflects views f infrmed participants, instead f just tp f the head respnses. Smewhat cmplicated t plan. Staff resurce intensive. Usually mre time investment needed frm participants, including 4-6 hurs n day f discussins. Can be expensive. Learn mre: Exemplar cases: (Maryland curts) (adlescent victims f crime) 4

5 Scial Media Facilitated Discussins Uses scial media platfrms like Facebk r Twitter t hst real-time discussins abut tpics. A webpage, scial media page, and/r hashtag t bring peple and cntent tgether. May be mre attractive t yunger generatins. Peple can participate frm all ver the wrld if they have an internet r mbile cnnectin. Allws fr a lt f infrmatin t be gathered at nce and relatively autmatically transcribed t text fr deeper analyses. Online tls can be used t easily track data that may be relevant t public pinin such as likes, retweets, replies. Requires the technlgy t participate. May be difficult t mderate discussins and t keep them fcused n the tpics. Amunt f infrmatin received may be difficult and time-cnsuming t prcess. Difficult t enfrce thughtful deliberatin if that is the gal. Lack f physical presence and use f text based cmmunicatin can smetimes reduce civility f discussin. Learn mre: 5

6 Demcratic Cmmunity This methd cmbines demcratic deliberatin grups with an effrt t build a lnger-lasting cmmunity f citizens. The ensemble f grups can use knwn methds t crdinate their thinking and civic actins. As a cmmunity, peple must get t knw each ther with sufficient depth t truly understand each ther s perspectives regarding plicy. This can invlve sharing life experiences, values, and identities. Sharing shuld help create cmpassin and interest that mtivate lnger-term engagement. Life experiences can be cnnected t cmmunity plicies t shw the relevance f engagement. Grups may seek t replicate by having experienced members create and guide new grups. A pyramidal crdinatin mechanism can allw ne grup t speak fr all thers. A guided prcess f grup members getting t knw each ther in sme depth A deliberative discussin f sme issue f cmmunity cncerned Sme effrt t expand t include a brader segment f the cmmunity If successful, demcratic cmmunities will persist and expand, affecting deep and lng-term cmmunity change. By cnnecting the persnal t cmmunity issues, demcratic cmmunities culd elicit greater mtivatin and interest and develp mre nvel and well-cnsidered plicy ptins. Demcratic cmmunities culd serve as a natural pint fr bidirectinal interactin between fficials and the cmmunity. Such grups may stimulate mre active citizenship. Institutinal actrs can cnsult a selfsustaining demcratic cmmunity repeatedly. While prmising in thery, this apprach is untested. The grups might nt stimulate sufficient interest t perpetuate themselves r grw in strength. The grups take a mre substantial time cmmitment than ther appraches. While a grup might be initially charged with fcusing n a given issue, the lng-term fcus f a grup cannt be determined. This may als be an advantage in clarifying genuine grassrts cncerns. Learn mre: Abut Demcratic Cmmunities. Examples emplys sme but nt all f the techniques f Demcratic Cmmunity. 6

7 Unidirectinal Cmmunicatin Engagement These frms f engagement are mre likely t emphasize ne-way r mre limited cmmunicatin between institutins and cmmunities. T fulfill the requirements utlined in the call fr Letters f Interest, these methds wuld need t be used in cmbinatin with ther methds t facilitate deeper and mre multi-way frms f cmmunicatin. Open Huses (Curts Public) Typically used t cmmunicate TO the public (curts public cmmunicatin). Residents are invited t drp by at a set lcatin n a set day. Residents can speak with representatives, view displays set up in the rm, break int discussin grups, cmplete surveys and s n. Attractive and interesting infrmatin presentatin and display Institutinal representatives wh can discuss issues and answer questins Relaxed, infrmal atmsphere. Gd fr prviding infrmatin. Multiple events can be held at different lcatins acrss a cmmunity. Can als integrate such techniques as surveys t allw fr sme bidirectinal cmmunicatin. Ptential fr lack f clarity in purpse. Because peple are cming and ging, it may be difficult t have a gd discussin. Resurce intensive fr staff. Can be expensive. May nly attract persns wh are already interested in the tpics. Learn mre and Exemplar cases: Prgrams 7

8 Surveys (Public Curts) Questinnaires which can typically be self-administered n paper r via nline methds, but may als be administered by an interviewer ver the phne. Slicit standardized input frm a large number f persns. Vlunteer r cnvenience sample surveys can be cmpleted by anyne wh has the survey instrument, and may allw mre peple t be heard, and help peple feel heard. A randm-sample survey can be cnducted t estimate the prevalence f views in a ppulatin. A set f standard questins that all persns are asked. Bth clsed-ended (e.g., rating r multiple respnse ptins) questins and pen-ended (text respnse) questins. Questins that can be answered in a shrt perid f time (e.g., 10 minutes). Online surveys remve the need fr data entry, can randmize questins, and can be very cst-effective fr large-scale administratin, resulting in quickly btained results. Mail surveys with pstage-paid return envelpes sent t address-based samples can vercme issues related t the increasing use f cell phnes that are nt listed in a phne directry. Randm-sampling allws generalizability t ppulatins (cmmunity as whle, and even minrity grup members r certain parts f city) beynd thse surveyed, with a degree f cnfidence that can be knwn and messaged. Randm sample data cnsidered Cadillac methd f infrmatin gathering frm any target grup. Online surveys require peple t have access t the internet and this may pse an additinal barrier t cmpletin and bias in the sampling. Mail and phne surveys can be mre expensive. If trying t make generalizatins t subgrups (e.g., minrity grup members r parts f city), need t have sufficient numbers f respndents t allw fr the assessment, driving up csts even mre. Even in the case f randm-sample surveys yu will nt btain the views f peple wh receive the survey yet d nt cmplete the survey. The results f the survey are nly as valid as the similarities between the cmpleters and nn-cmpleters. Learn mre: Exemplar cases: (Califrnia) (Minnesta) (Nrth Dakta) 8

9 Fcus Grups r Stakehlder Meetings (Public Curts) Grup discussins, 8-12 participants per discussin. Often includes: Pre and/r pst surveys A structured set f questins and fllw-up prmpts t ask f each grup A trained facilitatr/interviewer Gd way t learn abut interests and views f the participants. One participant s perspectives can prmpt new ideas r helpful reactins frm ther participants. Fllw-up questins can yield detailed and thughtful infrmatin. Limited number f participants. Participants are nt usually representative f the cmmunity. Grup members can calesce arund perspectives that are nt reflected utside the grup. Individuals may dminate. Learn mre: Exemplar cases: 9

10 Televting (Public Curts*) In this methd, peple are cntacted and invited t be interviewed r surveyed abut their pinins at a future date. Prir t that interview r survey they receive infrmatin n the issue f cncern and are asked t carefully cnsider the infrmatin and discuss it with friends, family, and neighbrs. On the date f the survey they prvide their pinins and reasning. Interview/survey frmat, cmbined with self-guided deliberatin Infrmatin prvided ahead f the actual vting activities It is imprtant that the interview r survey is cnducted by a persn, s the respndent will feel accuntable t adequately cnsider his r her views. Cnceivably, a well-prgrammed chatbt culd create the sense f accuntability t anther persn. *Panel discussins culd be televised r therwise bradcast the day f the survey. By allwing peple t als call in with questins, the methd becmes mre bidirectinal. This methd can get substantial numbers f peple t deliberate an issue at relatively lw cst including participants scial netwrks. The future interview instills a sense f accuntability in the respndent that increases cgnitive effrt and reduces biases. Sme research finds that much if nt all pinin change in mre expensive facet-face deliberatin is due t learning materials, which are incrprated here. Unlike standard deliberatin, it is less likely the respndents discussin partners will have diverse views. It is nt knwn hw many peple actually deliberate with thers, hw much they d s, and what the quality f these deliberatins are. It is nt knwn hw large an effrt is needed t affect cmmunity attitudes. Learn mre: Exemplar cases: ental_plicy_making pdf 10