Digital Tools and Design: Improving Participation in Policymaking

Abstract

This thesis examines how digital tools and design principles can be used to improve public participation in policymaking. I begin by identifying the problem that government consultations often fail to engage the public in policymaking because of their inaccessibility. I then explore ways to make government consultations more accessible and engaging, taking findings from: a literature review; interviews with policy practitioners; and case studies of real-world consultations that were effective in engaging the public. I apply these learnings to design and conduct an online survey as an alternative to the typical form of government consultation, using a recent New Zealand consultation on recycling as my comparator. The thesis evaluates the results of my survey and concludes with implications for incorporating digital tools and design principles into the consultation process.