Public Deliberation:Public Deliberation:Harvesting theHarvesting the

Public’s ThinkingPublic’s Thinking

RenRenée A. Daugherty, Ph.D.ée A. Daugherty, Ph.D.Professor, Dept. of Human Development & Family ScienceProfessor, Dept. of Human Development & Family Science

Extension Specialist -- Leadership & Educational MethodsExtension Specialist -- Leadership & Educational Methods

Purpose of this SessionPurpose of this Session

Introduce the concept of public Introduce the concept of public deliberation and how it can be deliberation and how it can be used to address challenging used to address challenging community problems and public community problems and public issuesissues

““Without the people’s will, Without the people’s will, the people won’t.”the people won’t.”

Harry Harry WestWest

Role of Public in PolicyRole of Public in Policy

. . . The people must be actively . . . The people must be actively involved in making public judgments . involved in making public judgments . . . To preserve American democracy, . . To preserve American democracy, there is something for everyone to do – there is something for everyone to do – average citizens, institutions, people in average citizens, institutions, people in positions of leadership, government positions of leadership, government officials, experts, the media – all of usofficials, experts, the media – all of us

Yankelovich, 1991Yankelovich, 1991

Public Decision-Making Public Decision-Making ProcessProcess

*Wide acceptance of an idea is not proof of validity.*Wide acceptance of an idea is not proof of validity.

Public Problem

Facts Myths* Values

Public Decision

Ways to Get Public Input Ways to Get Public Input on Public on Public

Problems/IssuesProblems/Issues VotingVoting PollingPolling DebateDebate Letters to the editorLetters to the editor Civil disobedienceCivil disobedience Demonstrations / protestsDemonstrations / protests Town HallsTown Halls BoycottsBoycotts . . . And more, including . . .. . . And more, including . . .

Public DeliberationPublic Deliberation

Weighing alternative approaches to Weighing alternative approaches to solve challenging public problemssolve challenging public problems

The Roots ofThe Roots ofPublic DeliberationPublic Deliberation

Tribal decision makingTribal decision making New England town hallNew England town hall

Public Deliberation Public Deliberation MethodsMethods

Deliberative forums Study circles Deliberative polling Citizen juries Conversation cafes

World cafes Wisdom circles Appreciative inquiry Sustained dialogue Tetra . . . and many others

Change HandbookChange Handbook (2007)(2007)9

If the only tool you have in If the only tool you have in your toolkit is a hammer, your toolkit is a hammer, then everything looks like a then everything looks like a nail . . . nail . . .

If the only tool you have in yourIf the only tool you have in yourcivic engagement toolkit iscivic engagement toolkit is__________, then everything __________, then everything looks like __________.looks like __________.

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National Issues ForumsNational Issues Forums (NIF) (NIF)

Deliberative forums / deliberative Deliberative forums / deliberative dialoguedialogue

Non-partisan, non-advocacyNon-partisan, non-advocacy Nation-wide networkNation-wide network Issues identified each yearIssues identified each year Issue books/videosIssue books/videos Local issue forums and study circlesLocal issue forums and study circles

Public Deliberation – Public Deliberation – ForumsForums

A public problemA public problem– Complex, no simple answers– There is time for deliberation; not an emergency

Deliberative; different from debate or simple Deliberative; different from debate or simple discussiondiscussion

Structured dialogue / issue guide with 3-4 Structured dialogue / issue guide with 3-4 approachesapproaches

Public understanding and knowledge of issuesPublic understanding and knowledge of issues Learning the concerns people haveLearning the concerns people have A means to make tough choices about policy A means to make tough choices about policy

directionsdirections Wrestling priorities out of complexitiesWrestling priorities out of complexities

Public Deliberation, Public Deliberation, cont’dcont’d

A way of reasoning and talking togetherA way of reasoning and talking together– WeighsWeighs the views of others the views of others– Considers Considers consequencesconsequences, costs and benefits, costs and benefits– Challenges people to identify Challenges people to identify trade-offstrade-offs– Respects the perspectives and values of othersRespects the perspectives and values of others

Requires that people:Requires that people:– Interact peacefully.Interact peacefully.– Share knowledge and perspectivesShare knowledge and perspectives

on issues.on issues.– Organize to act publicly on these issues.Organize to act publicly on these issues.

A means to find A means to find common ground for action, common ground for action, secure commitment to work togethersecure commitment to work together

IssueBook Issue guides Issue guides

• Non-partisan / non-advocacy• Booklets, place-mats, on-line

• NIF creates 3-4 guides/year• Life span of several years

• Format• Introduction• 3-4 approaches

• Research• When you think about the issue, what concerns you? How are you and your family being affected?• What actions would you want to see taken to address your concerns? What actions would you personally take?• What consequences might come from the action you favor that could adversely affect something else you consider valuable?

nifi.org

What Happens in a What Happens in a Deliberative Forum ?Deliberative Forum ?

Participants & moderator in a circle (15-25 people)Participants & moderator in a circle (15-25 people) Diverse participants and perspectivesDiverse participants and perspectives Facilitated by a trained moderator and recorderFacilitated by a trained moderator and recorder Issue guide with 3-4 approachesIssue guide with 3-4 approaches 2 to 2½ hours2 to 2½ hours

– OpeningOpening– Deliberation of approachesDeliberation of approaches– Reflections/closingReflections/closing

» Common ground for actionCommon ground for action» Trade-offsTrade-offs» Understanding others’ perspectivesUnderstanding others’ perspectives

What Happens after a What Happens after a Deliberative Forum?Deliberative Forum?

Nationally through NIFNationally through NIF– Moderators from multiple forums Moderators from multiple forums

report outcomes (such as common report outcomes (such as common ground, trade-offs, etc.) via webground, trade-offs, etc.) via web

– NIF prepares national reports (3 or 4 NIF prepares national reports (3 or 4 per year)per year)

““A Public Voice” – one-hour PBS specialA Public Voice” – one-hour PBS special Presentation at National Press Club in Presentation at National Press Club in

Washington, DCWashington, DC Presentation to Congress and/or staffPresentation to Congress and/or staff

What Happens after a What Happens after a Deliberative Forum, cont’dDeliberative Forum, cont’d

In Oklahoma or locally:In Oklahoma or locally:– Forum outcomes compiled into a final Forum outcomes compiled into a final

state or local reportstate or local report– Report is shared:Report is shared:

A public community meetingA public community meeting News releasesNews releases Printed materials, etc.Printed materials, etc.

Public actionPublic action Connecting citizens & officeholdersConnecting citizens & officeholders

Studies of Public Studies of Public DeliberationDeliberation

Deliberative Forum Participants:Deliberative Forum Participants:

– Come from every part of societyCome from every part of society– Reconsider their own opinions and judgmentsReconsider their own opinions and judgments– Approach issues more realistically considering Approach issues more realistically considering

costs, consequences and trade-offs associated costs, consequences and trade-offs associated with policy optionswith policy options

Studies of Public Studies of Public DeliberationDeliberation

Deliberative Forum Participants:Deliberative Forum Participants:

– Reconsider & develop greater understanding Reconsider & develop greater understanding for the views of othersfor the views of others

– Define their self interest more broadlyDefine their self interest more broadly– Develop greater sense of confidence in what Develop greater sense of confidence in what

they can do politicallythey can do politically– Become more interested in political and Become more interested in political and

social issuessocial issues

The WetlandsThe WetlandsA Metaphor for Civic A Metaphor for Civic

EngagementEngagement Natural coastal wetlandsNatural coastal wetlands

– Nuture lifeNuture life– Minimize the impact of stormsMinimize the impact of storms

Communities as “political wetlands”Communities as “political wetlands”– Minimize the impact of public problems Minimize the impact of public problems

through the authentic involvement of through the authentic involvement of Oklahomans in civic lifeOklahomans in civic life

– Build human capacityBuild human capacity» Informal gatherings as a basis for community Informal gatherings as a basis for community

conversations and deliberative forumsconversations and deliberative forums» Ad hoc associations evolving into civic organizationsAd hoc associations evolving into civic organizations

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Developing a Habit ofDeveloping a Habit ofPublic DeliberationPublic Deliberation

Oklahoma Partnership for Oklahoma Partnership for Public DeliberationPublic Deliberation

Trainings:Trainings:– Oklahoma Moderators and Recorders AcademyOklahoma Moderators and Recorders Academy– Framing Issues for Deliberation WorkshopFraming Issues for Deliberation Workshop

Statewide forums & reportsStatewide forums & reports Issue framingIssue framing OKdeliberates.orgOKdeliberates.org

Community EffortsCommunity Efforts

Norman / Cleveland County NIF Norman / Cleveland County NIF NetworkNetwork

Stillwater SPEAKSStillwater SPEAKS (Stillwater People Expressing Attitudes and Knowledge)(Stillwater People Expressing Attitudes and Knowledge)

Slogan: Slogan: ”In Search of Common Ground””In Search of Common Ground”

Other possible sites:Other possible sites:– Your community?Your community?

Norman / Cleveland Norman / Cleveland County NIF NetworkCounty NIF Network

Founded 2002Founded 2002 Diverse committeeDiverse committee Deliberative habitDeliberative habit

– 2 forums twice/year2 forums twice/year– Presidential debate watchPresidential debate watch

Framed a local issue in 2005 Framed a local issue in 2005 (health (health of elementary-aged children in Norman of elementary-aged children in Norman Public Schools)Public Schools)

Stillwater SPEAKS:Stillwater SPEAKS:Overview and HistoryOverview and History

Founded in 2002Founded in 2002 Diverse committee giving their Diverse committee giving their

time to . . .time to . . .. . . foster citizen involvement in public . . . foster citizen involvement in public

decision making through deliberative decision making through deliberative forumsforums

Stillwater SPEAKS, cont’dStillwater SPEAKS, cont’d

Project: Moving Toward Better Project: Moving Toward Better

HealthHealth Framework developedFramework developed 4 forums held4 forums held Report to communityReport to community 4 action committees4 action committees

formedformed

Stillwater SPEAKS, cont’dStillwater SPEAKS, cont’d

Project: State Ballot Project: State Ballot

QuestionsQuestions 2 forums2 forums 2 forums2 forums

Stillwater SPEAKS, cont’dStillwater SPEAKS, cont’d

Project: Alcohol Issue Project: Alcohol Issue Mayor’s Wellness Committee, Mayor’s Wellness Committee,

including Red Ribbon Committeeincluding Red Ribbon Committee Alcohol: Controlling the Toxic SpillAlcohol: Controlling the Toxic Spill 3 deliberative forums3 deliberative forums Written report atWritten report at

Town Hall MeetingTown Hall Meeting

Stillwater SPEAKS, cont’dStillwater SPEAKS, cont’d Project: Forums at the Public Project: Forums at the Public LibraryLibrary 4-6 deliberative forums per year4-6 deliberative forums per year Goal: to develop a deliberative habit in Goal: to develop a deliberative habit in

the Stillwater areathe Stillwater area Light evening meal, followed by forumLight evening meal, followed by forum Capacity to conduct 1-3 forums Capacity to conduct 1-3 forums

concurrently on those eveningsconcurrently on those evenings

Stillwater SPEAKS, cont’d Stillwater SPEAKS, cont’d

Information SharingInformation Sharing BrochureBrochure Website Website

http://fcs.okstate.edu/speakhttp://fcs.okstate.edu/speak

So What Has Happened?So What Has Happened?

Studies conducted:Studies conducted:– Telephone interviews with approx. Telephone interviews with approx.

100 persons100 persons– In-depth personal interviews with 12 In-depth personal interviews with 12

personspersons

ActivitiesActivities

Community task forceCommunity task force 37%37%

Contact office holdersContact office holders 64%64%

Participant networkParticipant network 83%83%

Study groupStudy group 32%32%

Additional forums on same topicAdditional forums on same topic 44%44%

Featured in local mediaFeatured in local media 67%67%

Issue on public agendaIssue on public agenda 53%53%

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Outreach Scholarship Conference 2005

Use of Public Deliberation in Use of Public Deliberation in Everyday LifeEveryday Life

WorkWork 79%79%

Family LifeFamily Life 55% 55%

Civic LifeCivic Life 75%75%

Religious communityReligious community 35%35%

Dealing with Public IssuesDealing with Public Issues 76%76%

22Outreach Scholarship Conference 2005

So How About This So How About This Community/County/Community/County/

Organization/Campus?Organization/Campus?

What issues here might lend What issues here might lend themselves to deliberative forums?themselves to deliberative forums?

““Never doubt that a small group of Never doubt that a small group of

committed citizens can change the committed citizens can change the

world; indeed it is the only thing that world; indeed it is the only thing that

ever has.”ever has.”

--Margaret Mead--Margaret Mead