This document discusses how online methods could help achieve true representation in government consultations and decision making. It acknowledges that while representativeness has traditionally been a challenge, online methods now provide an opportunity for greater and more cost-effective representation of the population. However, there is still uncertainty around using online methodologies for this purpose. The document also discusses older deliberative methods like citizens' juries and deliberative polling that aimed to get informed input from a representative sample, and whether aspects of these could be combined with online methods to develop new hybrid approaches.

1. When new Meets old
Can online methods help us achieve true
representation in government

2. • ‘Winds of change - the future of
research’
• ‘Looking forward. Market and
social research. No longer
required?’
• 'Are social media and research
meant to be together'
We are telling
ourselves that as
an industry we
need to change

3. Has not been easy
for social and
government
research to
embrace

4. Representation in
Government
creates the need for
evidence based decision
making
Representative
research
representativeness of
sample

5. Representativeness in research is
at the heart of everything we do

6. Conundrum of cost
and practicalities
means we use
‘convenience’
sample

7. Can online methods
offer the opportunity for
greater representation
in government?

9. On-going
consultation
to live up to the
bargain made
every 3 years

10. Uncertainty and
reluctance to
use online
methodologies
Online now
critical to
government’s
interaction with
the Australian
population

13. Government 2.0

14. Public sphere consultations
Senator Kate Lundy
“to create a truly open, accessible, transparent
and collaborative process of policy
development”, with the online public spheres,
allowing “people from all around Australia to
participate and engage equally with
government.”
Juergen Habermas
‘Public sphere’ is a space that “…through the
vehicle of public opinion it puts the state in touch
with the needs of society.”

15. Where are we at?
A tool for the vocal minority

16. Level of public
knowledge
and interest

17. The democratic deficit

18. The citizens’ assembly
”….the idea of a citizens' assembly as ‘school-yard
politics”. It was ‘bizarre’ a government would randomly
select 150 people to advise it on policy, the think tank's
[representative] said. ‘We'll be doing it climate policy
on Facebook next’.”

19. “Not just a world class venue
but a modern market place for
the exchange of ideas on our
national future. It is to be the
centre of a very new, but also
very old politics.”
Australia Forum

20. Can we do community
consultation differently?
Methodologies we use tell us the existing status quo
Once upon a time, we had access to methodologies
that allowed us to do things differently…

21. Deliberative polling
Random, representative sample
Baseline
Members discuss issues
Briefings
Small group discussions
Dialogue with 'experts’ & political
leaders
Sample asked original questions
"The resulting changes in opinion
represent the conclusions the public
would reach, if people had
opportunity to become more informed
and more engaged by the issues."
The great consultative methods of yesteryear
Citizen Juries
Sample of target population gathered
together
Hears 'testimony’
Call witnesses
Deliberates
Provides a verdict
Sample is smaller
Can reconvene over extended period
Opinions not statistically
representative
“Once citizens find themselves in a
social context that support
deliberation", they can be competent
with complex policy issues.

22. Is it
representative?

24. Cost and time effective
Access to silent majority
rather than the vocal
minority
Highly familiar method of
communication
A resurgence of the old
leading to new hybrid
methods
Online as a means of
informed consultation

25. Embracing the
old and the new

26. LATITUDE INSIGHTS
Changing the conversation
Melbourne office
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P: +61 2 9420 2337
E: conversations@latitudeinsights.com.au
W: latitudeinsights.com.au
Contact us:
Dianne Gardiner
CEO
dianne@latitudeinsights.com.au
0417 323 765