A mixed methods investigation of the influence of deliberate mini-publics on political attitudes

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Research aimThe proposed project will investigate how deliberative mini-publics (DMPs) - such as citizens' juries and assemblies - influence citizens' attitudes toward democracy. People increasingly feel disconnected from politics, weakening democracy. By reintegrating people in decision-making, DMPs are seen as a promising innovation to tackle these issues, but more research on their effectiveness is needed.MethodologyThe study will address this gap through a mixed-methods approach, combining survey (including conjoint) experiments with focus groups. Drawing from the literature, I expect being informed about DMPs to positively influence political attitudes. Survey experiments are ideal for examining the causal effect of receiving information whilst focus groups allow investigation of the more complex aspects of political attitudes. Together, they will provide a more well-rounded understanding of these and the underlying processes behind them.Potential significanceWhilst research has shown that participating in DMPs can increase political knowledge, faith in democracy, and trust in government these effects are restricted to small numbers of participants. Further study of how they influence the attitudes of citizens' in general will enhance understanding of the relationship between the public and democracy, facilitate better DMP design and inform core contemporary debates about democratic reform.