Methods for consultation and deliberation
These methods are valuable in developing a deep understanding of an issue, and offer opportunities for non-traditional communities to have a say on an issue.
Surveying and in-person interviews
Surveys and interviews are a traditional but highly effective way of gathering the views of citizens or disseminating information about key issues. Depending on the size of the target group, they can be relatively expensive in terms of time and collation of the results. They also require excellent design to ensure that the questions asked reflect the objectives of the engagement activity. The Office of Economic and Statistical Research can provide advice in this area.
Online consultation
While online and web-based engagement processes are relatively new, there are some good examples that can give you ideas of what is required to set up these types of activities. Online consultation can provide opportunities to reach a large audience regarding a specific policy or issue. They can be used as stand-alone engagement processes, or can support a range of other engagement techniques.
Liaise with your IT specialists, who will be able to provide advice on your departmental requirements. The Community Engagement Division can support access to the ConsultQld site. For information on the benefits of and approaches to e-engagement, refer to Engaging Queenslanders: Community engagement in the business of government.
Examples include:
- Queensland Government’s Get involved web site
- Department of State Development’s Queensland Regulations: Have Your Say web site
Ways in which technology can be used include:
- web-based decision-making
- interactive web sites
- Internet surveys
- discussion boards
- online chat events
- online consultation activities.
The Queensland Government’s community engagement website, Get involved incorporates ConsultQld, which provides a facility for agencies to implement online, statewide consultations and also a facility for agencies to target particular communities of interest. This site includes a calendar detailing consultation events being undertaken across government in various parts of the state. Increasingly, online techniques are being used for deliberative processes, as well as providing support off-line for consultation and deliberative methods of community engagement.
The Department of Communities can assist agencies with online consultation, including provision of advice regarding all aspects of e-consultation and assistance with preparing issues for consultation through ConsultQld.
Focus groups or small group interactions
Focus groups are a very effective way of gathering the views of citizens or disseminating information about key issues. They are particularly effective where you have a large community to engage with and limited resources or time.
However, they are however relatively expensive in terms of time in planning and collation of the results. They also require excellent skills in facilitation and design of the key focus group question to ensure that the questions asked reflect the objectives of the engagement activity. The Office of Economic and Statistical Research can provide assistance to departments in this area.
You can also use the participative processes outlined below in delivering effective focus groups:
- citizens’ juries
- learning circles
- policy roundtables
- discussion groups and workshops
- policy action teams
- coffee klatches
- community conversations
- search conference
- interactive web sites.
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