Methodology for participatory policy analysis

In the course of time it has become clear that policy analysts who use traditional formal modeling techniques have limited impact on policy making regarding complex policy problems. These kinds of problems require the analyst to combine scientific insights with subjective knowledge resources and to improve communication between the parties involved in the policy problem. A policy analyst who takes into account the need for social interaction has different participatory methods at his disposal, such as gaming/simulations, consensus conferences, and electronic meetings. Some assumptions with regard to the theoretical base, the application, and the effectiveness of participatory methods are formulated in this article. These assumptions can be tested and supplemented by means of comparative research on the effectiveness of participatory methods in different policy situations. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.