A Glimpse into Policy Informatics: The Case of Participatory Platforms that Generate Synthetic Empathy

Abstract

In this article we introduce policy informatics as an emerging research space. Policy informatics is the study of how information systems are leveraged toward solving complex public policy problems. We illustrate the role of humancentered participatory platforms in facilitating collaborative, and productive, deliberations on policy issues. When individuals and groups seek to collaborate to resolve policy issues, competing interests and adversarial positions on issues as well as an unawareness of the others’ perspectives often result in poor outcomes. Generating and disseminating feelings of empathy among members in these networks is crucial for mitigating conflicts. However, empathy generation and transfer is a complex challenge that requires systematic research within the design of participatory platforms. A thoughtful application of information systems (IS) can help bring diverse stakeholders together and promote cooperation by facilitating richer communication channels and timely feedback to generate a sense of shared community to pursue shared goals.