Deliberative research
Deliberative research is a technique that is central to exploring how people feel about issues about which they have little or no knowledge. It provides time and space for exploration of participants’ initial views on the topic. From these discussions it is possible to understand baseline attitudes, public values and information needs. This approach enables people to develop their views on technical topics (for example scientific or financial) and is also valuable when clients want to understand how the provision of information might impact on attitudes and behaviour.
PSP regularly use this technique to provide science policy-makers with an understanding of the public’s perspectives on new and developing scientific research and technology. Deliberative research analyses the discussions using social research analysis techniques to provide an in-depth understanding of viewpoints and is a powerful way of understanding people’s fundamental attitudes, concerns and values. Based within a social research methodological framework it allows some level of generalisation.
In designing this type of research factors that need to be considered include how much participants might know about the subject; how best to stimulate discussion; the amount of information we might provide in advance; the nature of the conversations that are likely to take place; the size and composition of the groups; and, of course, the objectives and required outputs and the client’s role in the process.
Dialogue events and consultation activities are something quite different
Deliberative research is research, not consultation. It is about understanding people and society. It does not seek views on options or endorsement for particular policies, even though using trade-offs and debating policy and practice options can be powerful ways to uncover the fundamental attitudes and values that shape people’s behaviour.