Skip Navigation | RSSS Home | ANU Home | Search ANU |

Research Project

Into the Void: Exploring the Impact of Participatory Processes in Research and Policy Contexts

Simon Niemeyer

In conjunction with CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation)

This research explores the relationship between deliberative methods and outcomes — such as policy implementation. It will consider questions of appropriateness (what is the appropriate nature of impact) and effectiveness (in terms of level of impact) of deliberative participation. By assessing actual experience of running deliberative processes with respect to research outcomes, the research aims to investigate both barriers and pathways to a desired level of impact. Important questions regarding the appropriate level of impact in both theory and practice will be addressed. Given existing institutional settings mechanisms whereby this appropriate level can be achieved and ways in which barriers can be transformed will be explored.

This initiative will bring together researchers from within CSIRO and Australian Universities who have engaged in participatory/deliberative research to reflect from their experience and explore avenues for improving its interface with decision outputs. This will result in better understanding of the practice of deliberative input in the Australian context, by way of use of domestic case studies and comparison with international practice. Another benefit will be the development of strategies for improving the nexus between public input and decision processes.