Introduction/Overview

Deliberative democracy, citizens’ assemblies, public dialogue… you may have heard these terms, but what are deliberative methods all about, how are they distinct from other qualitative research methods and how do you use them?

Deliberative methods are an exciting and distinct set of research and engagement methods. Through these processes, participants go on a journey in which they are given the time, space and structure to learn about the topic and deliberate on it with their peers (often over a period of weeks or months). With the help of expert stimulus, their own lived experience, structured facilitation and a range of perspectives from their fellow participants, these ‘mini-publics’ can tackle some of society’s biggest and most contentious issues, delivering recommendations, priorities, conclusions or messages as a result. Deliberative methods are gaining ever more interest in government as public trust in government and other institutions falls and departments look to involve the public meaningfully in decision-making processes about novel, contentious and complex issues facing society. They require distinct research skills, facilitation approaches and management.

In Morning 1 we will hear about the background of deliberative methods, the principles that underpin them and explore the range of different processes (citizens’ assemblies, citizens’ juries, public dialogues, citizens’ summits, deliberative workshops, citizens’ panels). We will consider new hybrid methods of delivering them involving both face-to-face and online elements. We will cover elements including recruitment (and equity), stimulus (and balance) and ethics and oversight. We will do interactive exercises to think about when deliberative methods are suitable, and practice planning a deliberative workshop.

Topics

• The history and principles underpinning deliberative methods
• When deliberative methods are suitable, benefits and limitations
• Some of the main types of deliberative processes
• Recruitment, representation and equity
• Designing deliberative processes
• Creating stimulus, involving experts and balance
• Effective facilitation and note-taking
• Challenging situations and sensitive topics
• Facilitating for deliberation, consensus building and/or prioritisation
• Ethics and participant care
• Analysing and reporting on deliberative processes
• Evaluating the quality and impact of deliberative processes

Learning outcomes

By the end of the workshop, participants will:

• Have an understanding of the principles underpinning deliberative methods and when they are suitable
• Know about the range of deliberative processes
• Have practised designing a deliberative workshop
• Have knowledge about recruiting participants and creating balanced stimulus
• Have knowledge about group dynamics
• Have had an opportunity to practise facilitating a small group
• Have knowledge about facilitation techniques for supporting deliberation, consensus building or prioritisation
• Have knowledge of techniques for dealing with sensitive topics and challenging situations
• Have applied research ethics to deliberative processes and considered participant care
• Understand the principles of data analysis and reporting on deliberative processes • Have been introduced to evaluation considerations of deliberative processes

Who will benefit?

This foundation course will be of value to social researchers, policy or engagement professionals who are new to deliberative methods, or want to update their knowledge and practice their skills. Those who need to understand what good deliberative processes look like, in order to commission them, will also benefit. Some knowledge of qualitative social research is advisable.

Course tutor

Sophie Reid is a social researcher, evaluator and facilitator. Much of her work is in designing, delivering and reporting on large-scale deliberative processes. She has recently co-led public dialogues commissioned by UKRI on ‘Making sense of ultra-processed foods’ and the Food, Farming & Countryside Commission’s Food Conversation (with social research agency Hopkins van Mil). She has facilitated deliberative processes with public and professionals across health, data, new technologies, environment and trade. Sophie is also an independent evaluator for deliberative processes, including those co-funded by UKRI’s Sciencewise programme, taking a critical and realist perspective to explore the relationship between quality and impact.

  This course contributes 6 hours to the MRS CPD programme

n.b. This course runs over two consecutive days:

Part 1 - 10 September - 10.00 am to 1.30 pm

Part 2 - 11 September - 10.00 am to 1.30 pm

Looking to book for six or more people from your organisation? Contact [email protected] to ask about our in-house courses