Collaborative Research: A Multi-State Investigation of Small Group and Mass Public Decision Making on Fiscal and Scientific Controversies through the Citizens' Initiative Review

合作研究：通过公民倡议审查对财政和科学争议的小团体和大众公共决策进行多州调查

• 批准号: 1357444
• 负责人: Katherine Knobloch
• 金额: $ 11.65万
• 依托单位: Colorado State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2014
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2014-04-15 至 2017-03-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1357444&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Multi; State; Investigation

In 2010, the Oregon state government authorized the first Citizens' Initiative Review (CIR), which convened two random samples of twenty-four registered voters for five days of deliberation on a pair of statewide initiatives. At the end of their deliberations, each citizen panel wrote a one-page analysis that went into the official pamphlet sent by the Secretary of State to every registered voter. Starting in 2014, the CIR's organizers are attempting to transform this process into a more cost-effective and scalable means of informing public decision making that extends beyond Oregon. Changes to the CIR's design and issue-focus permit a study on the limits and potential of democratic deliberation, with a focus on scientific controversies. A multi-method investigation of the 2014 CIR will employ direct observation, transcript analysis, and panelist surveys. Case study analysis of four separate CIR panels will assess the democratic and deliberative quality of lay citizen decision making on scientifically complex issues via streamlined, digital discussion procedures. Additional studies will examine how the wider public incorporates the CIR's information and recommendations into its decision making. A multi-state usability study of the voter pamphlet will provide a more refined picture of how voters use and understand the CIR's one-page analysis. An online survey experiment will incorporate findings from the usability study into an online voter guide to test how proposed alterations to the CIR's design shape the public's trust in the CIR's issue analyses. Finally, a mail survey will test the efficacy of distributing CIR findings via conventional media channels. Our research will aid civic reformers designing deliberative processes, as well as legislators considering the adoption of the CIR and similar designs. Our collaborative research model also advances the professional development of the numerous graduate students and junior faculty working on this project.

2010年，俄勒冈州政府批准了第一次公民倡议审查（CIR），该审查召集了两个随机抽样的24名登记选民，对一对全州范围的倡议进行了为期五天的审议。在他们的审议结束时，每个公民小组写了一页纸的分析，进入国务卿发送给每一个登记选民的官方小册子。从2014年开始，CIR的组织者正试图将这一过程转变为一种更具成本效益和可扩展的方式，为俄勒冈州以外的公共决策提供信息。CIR的设计和问题焦点的变化允许对民主审议的局限性和潜力进行研究，重点是科学争议。2014年CIR的多方法调查将采用直接观察，成绩单分析和全景调查。对四个独立的CIR小组的案例研究分析将通过简化的数字讨论程序，评估外行公民在科学复杂问题上决策的民主和审议质量。更多的研究将审查更广泛的公众如何将CIR的信息和建议纳入其决策。一个多州的可用性研究的选民小册子将提供一个更精确的图片选民如何使用和理解CIR的一页分析。一项在线调查实验将把可用性研究的结果纳入在线选民指南，以测试对CIR设计的拟议修改如何塑造公众对CIR问题分析的信任。最后，一个邮件调查将测试通过传统媒体渠道分发CIR调查结果的有效性。 我们的研究将有助于公民改革者设计审议过程，以及立法者考虑采用CIR和类似的设计。我们的合作研究模式也推进了许多研究生和初级教师在这个项目上工作的专业发展。