The behaviour of citizens in a large-scale on-line deliberation (did citizens actually deliberate?)

Corinne Wales, Sarah Cotterill, Graham Smith

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

    Abstract

    The internet can bring a new dimension to the practical institutionalisation of deliberative democracy by allowing larger number of citizens to participate without the barriers of time and space. However, the anonymity and lack of direct contact between internet participants throws up new and unpredictable challenges to the conduct of deliberation. A recent large scale randomised controlled trial set out to explore the deliberative quality of internet engagement, by inviting a randomly selected group of citizens to take part in an internet deliberation on youth anti-social behaviour and community cohesion (Smith et al 2009a). The research project examined three related themes: shifts in the policy preferences of participants; the relative impact of deliberation compared to the receipt of information; and the extent to which the interaction between participants was deliberative (Smith et al, 2009b). This paper focuses on the third theme: did the citizen participants actually ???deliberate???? Combining a qualitative analysis of the contributions made by citizens to the on-line forum and quantitative analysis of preference shifts and participant characteristics, we examine the extent and quality of deliberative engagement between participants. We introduce a deliberative quality analysis framework, which is indebted to earlier work in this area (Steenbergen et al, 2003, Steenbergen et al 2009, Stromer-Galley 2007) providing a tool of particular relevance to an internet-based forum between citizens. In this paper we consider five dimensions of deliberative quality: inclusiveness, reason-giving, respect towards the groups discussed and towards other participants, reciprocity between participants and common good orientation. Using the framework, we examined the deliberative quality of a sample of discussion threads. This paper is a report on how citizens really behaved when taking part in on-line policy-relevant discussions on youth anti-social behaviour and community cohesion.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationhost publication
    Publication statusPublished - Mar 2010
    EventPolitical Studies Association - Edinburgh
    Duration: 29 Mar 201031 Mar 2010

    Conference

    ConferencePolitical Studies Association
    CityEdinburgh
    Period29/03/1031/03/10

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