|
Department for Education and Skills e-consultation
Method(s) Used
Name of person who posted the project: Laura Miller
Location of project: United Kingdom
Date when the project started: 2005
Date when the project ended/project ongoing: 2006
Background to project: The department runs a number of consultations each year around developing policies; most have an online response option. A limited number of the department's consultations address selected stakeholders and do not have an online response option.
.
Each consultation has a named policy contact. This online survey contains a series of closed questions. A "comments" field accompanies most questions allowing respondents to expand on answers selected from the set scales.
.
The surveys can be completed without registration and submitted anonymously.
.
By registering with the site participants can receive notifications and updates about consultations. Registration also allows participants to store surveys (for up to 12 months after the close of a consultation) and to return to partially completed surveys.
.
Purpose of project: The website was set up to manage the department's online consultation activity and hosted a number of surveys and produced reports for those taking part.
.
The majority of online consultations on the site ran for a minimum of 12 weeks in line with the Code of Practice on Consultation (see www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/regulation/consultation). In exceptional circumstances a consultation ran for less than this period (with an explanation provided).
.
The department's aim was to publish the results of a consultation within three months of its closing date. However, this was dependent on legislation and ministerial approval, and was not always possible.
.
Results can be viewed in the archive section of the consultation website.
.
Project activities: Several online surveys were conducted and results were published online. These were part of the department's consultation process.
.
Project results: Thirty-two consultations with an online response route (conducted in 2005) were analysed. The average number of overall consultation responses (per survey) was 843; the average number of respondents who submitted online was 39%.
.
Strengths
- Regularity of consultation;
- Breadth of consultation subjects;
- Creation of dedicated online consultation unit;
- Structured responses;
- Inclusion of open field to allow elaboration by respondents;
- Respondents can participate anonymously or register an account;
- Respondents can choose how they wish to be kept up to date on consultation.
.
Potential for improvement
- Respondents participate in isolation making it difficult to gauge impact of participation;
- No deliberative mechanism;
- Reliance on respondents finding consultation;
- Consultations are text-led and can involve detailed, technical terminology.
.
Consultations were regular, diverse and the creation of a dedicated consultation unit meant that those undertaking a consultation exercise online are well-supported.
.
For participants the experience of participating in these consultations should be fairly positive. Participation is quick and straightforward. It is possible to interact with DfES policy via this route in a low-intensity way. Those who wish to regularly participate can create an account, which ensures that they are kept up-to-date with new additions and the progress of an exercise once it has closed.
.
An average participation rate of 39% would suggest a healthy interest amongst the department's stakeholders in this route for participation.
.
However, the "lite" format of the consultation - based on surveys - may also leave those participating in the consultations, and those owners of the consultations, unfulfilled. The surveys have pre-determined questions, do not allow deliberation and the process of analysis after submission lacks a transparency that we have seen in other case studies, which can raise suspicion and put people off.
.
The DfES' "e-consultation" site represents one of the longest serving online consultation exercises at a central government level. Using this established site and its participant base, the DfES is presented with a valuable opportunity to branch out and experiment with other online consultation techniques and tools. It will be interesting to see whether this opportunity is pursued or whether the department decides that its current method and procedures are sufficient for its purposes.
.
The department said that it was pleased with the performance of the online survey site, which it had run since 2001. It was happy with response quality and rates, and with the processes it had developed for analysing data received online.
.
The department is continually assessing its online consultation options. In addition to its main online survey site, the department also runs occasional webchats with ministers or government experts. It has also explored deliberative online forums as an alternative method of consultation.
.
Contact details: eDemocracy Programme
Hansard Society
40-43 Chancery Lane
London WC2A 1JA
.
t 020 7438 1222
e edemocracy@hansard.lse.ac.uk
.
|
Recommended Case Studies
|
Sign up to watch Public Participation Case Studies
