Public Engagement Tool Research Articles

Navigating the digital beat: a review of social media as a public engagement tool in policing

PurposeThis article explores the changing nature of social media use as a public engagement tool by police services.Design/methodology/approachA comprehensive review is conducted of academic studies from criminology and policing journals. Sources are identified from key academic databases and are analysed in relation to three decades (2000–2009, 2010–2019 and 2020 to present) to show how the use of social media has changed over time.FindingsThe way in which social media is used in policing has changed considerably over time. From initial enthusiasm, it is found that there is growing scepticism in the use of social media as a public engagement tool. After an initial proliferation in use, there is then increasing consolidation and control in response to concerns about reputational risk.Research limitations/implicationsThe research highlights underlying dynamics of engagement and retrenchment, which offer important insights for how we understand public engagement and value creation in policing and emergency services more generally. We draw on academic research from English-language academic journals, but we have endeavoured to include research from the broadest possible range of countries.Practical implicationsThis study demonstrates how the police and other public services must respond to the growing use of social media by the public to maximise value creation whilst minimising the threats that come from potential value destruction.Originality/valueThis study is the first to comprehensively review the policing and criminology literature related to social media and to apply a public engagement lens to this analysis.

Toward a public outreach and community engagement strategy on cancer in Newfoundland and Labrador: an initial road map and recommendations

Abstract Background: The province of Newfoundland and Labrador has one of the highest incidence and mortality rates for cancer among the Canadian provinces. Sharing accessible knowledge on cancer is an important part of cancer control and population health efforts. However, bringing useful health information and knowledge exchange events to residents requires an efficient and accessible system. Objectives: We aimed to create a road map and recommendations for effective public outreach and community engagement on cancer in Newfoundland and Labrador. Methods: We used the following information, experience, or public engagement tools to gather information to inform our work: discussions with the members of the Public Interest Group on Cancer Research, researchers' experiences with recruitment and knowledge translation activities, feedback provided to 2 public conferences delivered (Public Conference on Genetics delivered in 2020 and Public Conference on Cancer delivered in 2022—where the target audience was general public), and 2 public town halls (one in-person, one virtual) and 2 individual consultation sessions with key stakeholders. Information gathered was then summarized. Results: We identified a rich set of cancer-related topics for which to organize public events on cancer. In addition, a large number of public outreach and engagement options were identified, emphasizing the fragmented, inefficient, and resource-intensive nature of public outreach and community engagement efforts in the province. Based on the information collected, we developed an initial road map and recommendations to inform future public engagement activities and strategies. In addition, our group has started to implement the road map for our current and future public engagement activities. Conclusions: We present key cancer-related topics that are of public interest and issues and opportunities for recruitment and delivery of knowledge and events to residents of Newfoundland and Labrador. This information can be useful for researchers, organizations, and the health care system in the province. However, more inclusive consultations, larger collaborations, funding, and systematic data collection are needed to build a province-wide public outreach network on cancer and to identify more comprehensive public engagement options. The work presented here can potentially guide these efforts. Our work is also expected to inspire other provinces, states, and communities to assess their public outreach status and help develop road maps co-led by patients to progress their public engagement efforts in cancer.

Procedural Modeling in Urban Digital Twins as a Tool for Visualization, Analysis, and Public Engagement: Examining a Housing Policy in California

Procedural Modeling in Urban Digital Twins as a Tool for Visualization, Analysis, and Public Engagement: Examining a Housing Policy in California

“Frequently Asked Questions” About Genetic Engineering in Farm Animals: A Frame Analysis

Calls for public engagement on emerging agricultural technologies, including genetic engineering of farm animals, have resulted in the development of information that people can interact and engage with online, including “Frequently Asked Questions” (FAQs) developed by organizations seeking to inform or influence the debate. We conducted a frame analysis of FAQs webpages about genetic engineering of farm animals developed by different organizations to describe how questions and answers are presented. We categorized FAQs as having a regulatory frame (emphasizing or challenging the adequacy of regulations), an efficiency frame (emphasizing precision and benefits), a risks and uncertainty frame (emphasizing unknown outcomes), an animal welfare frame (emphasizing benefits for animals) or an animal dignity frame (considering the inherent value of animals). Animals were often featured as the object of regulations in FAQs, and questions about animals were linked to animal welfare regulations. The public were represented using a variety of terms (public, consumer) and pronouns (I, we). Some FAQs described differences between technology terms (gene editing, genetic modification) and categorized technologies as either well-established or novel. This framing of the technology may not respond to actual public concerns on the topic. Organizations seeking to use FAQs as a public engagement tool might consider including multiple viewpoints and actual questions people have about genetic engineering.

Using community science to advance grizzly bear conservation

Alberta grizzly bears are classified as a threatened species in the province of Alberta as of 2010, with human-caused mortality and habitat loss a primary threat. The people who live, work, and recreate within bear habitat play a crucial role in their conservation. While the public is often enthusiastic about grizzly bears, and opportunistically report their observations to government staff, these reports are not systematic or rigorously collected and lack key information. As such, we developed GrizzTracker as a community science program. Following several years of successful deployment, we analyzed community scientist data and evaluated the efficacy of the program through an online user survey. We found that the GrizzTracker app was useful as a data collection and public engagement tool, yielding information for applied management, and that community scientists were generally satisfied. We provide considerations for future program development, including considerations for human, social, technological, and financial capital investment related to design, development, and implementation of data collection protocols, the importance of clearly communicating outcomes, and opportunities for educational outreach. While there is continued trepidation by traditionally trained scientists to develop or engage in community science programs, and some noted areas of improvement for our program specifically, we think that GrizzTracker offers a success story in community science.

Biodiversity Knowledge and Conservation Awareness in a Bufferzone Community: An Assessment of Public Engagement Strategies and Tools

Biodiversity Knowledge and Conservation Awareness in a Bufferzone Community: An Assessment of Public Engagement Strategies and Tools

Gamifying Public Engagement on Sustainability Issues: From Motivational Affordances to the Effectiveness of Symmetrical Public Relations

This study aims to investigate the impact of gamification as applied to public relations, specifically its ability to engage the public with social issues. Using a survey of users on a corporate-sponsored sustainability-themed gamification platform (N = 417), the study examines the effects of two gamified two-way communication strategies—feedback and value co-creation—on the public’s feeling of engagement. Additionally, it explores the mediating role of motivational experiences and perceptions of the organization-public relationship in this process. The findings provide empirical evidence that gamification can enhance corporate public engagement programs by offering motivational affordances, thus creating an encouraging environment that satisfies individual users’ needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Consequently, positive perceptions of the relationship with the company are strengthened, leading to increased psychological engagement. This study’s contribution to the field lies in its novel perspective on gamification research within the context of public relations, bridging the gap in empirical research regarding its effectiveness in corporate communication. It sheds light on the potential of gamification as a valuable tool for corporate public engagement.

Digital Participation Models as Public Engagement Tools in Planning: A Concept Exploration

This paper critically and empirically explores how planning professionals understand a digital engagement tool and its use in effective and meaningful public participation. Through a series of focus groups where planners engaged with a Digital Participation Model (DPM), the research studied the functionality of this digital tool in relation to key communicative principles such as communication, comprehension and transparency. In doing so, this paper contributes to critical literature on the implications and politics of generalised technology developments for planning participation. Additionally, it offers a conceptual lens to critically guide application of digital engagement tools with the aim of reducing the risk that new technology dictates how we understand participatory engagement.

Committee hearings as parliamentary public engagement: A global perspective

ABSTRACT Committees are important units of parliaments around the world, but their use in public engagement has been underexplored. Committees can conduct public hearings, which have been analysed as tools for information processing. Following a conceptual overview, the article analyses data collected for the 2022 Global Parliamentary Report on hearings as a tool for public engagement. Based on the survey responses of 69 parliamentary chambers and interviews with MPs and staff, it explores how, and where hearings are used for engagement. Spotlighting innovations such as committee field hearings and core issues from committee practice, such as digital hearings, and mechanisms for the involvement of CSOs, it becomes clear that the perspective on hearings must be broadened beyond legislation and oversight and their role in public engagement must be taken seriously – both for academic study and political practice.

Crafting the future of the artificial womb - speculative design as a tool for public engagement with emerging technologies

This study aimed to characterise the potential of speculative design in public engagement with emerging technologies. Current initiatives in public engagement have important drawbacks, such as the focus on quantifiable impacts, abstract reasoning and difficulties in imagining potential futures. Speculative design is considered a promising tool for public engagement because of its ability to open up dialogues about the societal implications of emerging technologies. Realising its potential depends on a thorough understanding of the reflective practices induced by speculative design. In this study we identified enabling factors for reflective practices to unfold and 3 ways of questioning human-technology relations, namely through scenarios, stereotypes and lived experiences. Our findings show that speculative design encourages imagining futures and facilitates reflection on qualitative impacts in various forms of knowledge by providing thought-provoking prospects. The medium has shortcomings, however. For participants to take on the role of creative moral agents the design needs to tread the fine line between activating them through ambiguity and informing them. Comparing our findings with pragmatist ethics, we show how speculative design can put into practice the four most prominent features of pragmatist democratic ethical deliberation.

What values drive communities’ nutrition priorities in a resource constrained urban area in South Africa?

BackgroundVoices of under-resourced communities are recognised as important yet are often unheard in decisions about healthcare resource allocation. Deliberative public engagement can serve as an effective mechanism for involving communities in establishing nutrition priorities. This study sought to identify the priorities of community members of a South African township, Soweto, and describe the underlying values driving their prioritisation process, to improve nutrition in the first 1000 days of life.MethodsWe engaged 54 community members (28 men and 26 women aged > 18 years) from Soweto. We conducted seven group discussions to determine how to allocate limited resources for prioritising nutrition interventions. We used a modified public engagement tool: CHAT (Choosing All Together) which presented 14 nutrition intervention options and their respective costs. Participants deliberated and collectively determined their nutritional priorities. Choices were captured quantitatively, while group discussions were audio-recorded. A thematic analysis was undertaken to identify the reasons and values associated with the selected priorities.ResultsAll groups demonstrated a preference to allocate scarce resources towards three priority interventions—school breakfast provisioning, six-months paid maternity leave, and improved food safety. All but one group selected community gardens and clubs, and five groups prioritised decreasing the price of healthy food and receiving job search assistance. Participants’ allocative decisions were guided by several values implicit in their choices, such as fairness and equity, efficiency, social justice, financial resilience, relational solidarity, and human development, with a strong focus on children. Priority interventions were deemed critical to supporting children’s optimal development and well-being, interrupting the intergenerational cycle of poverty and poor human development in the community.ConclusionOur study demonstrates how public engagement can facilitate the incorporation of community values and programmatic preferences into nutrition priority setting, enabling a responsive approach to local community needs, especially in resource constrained contexts. Findings could guide policy makers to facilitate more appropriate decisions and to improve nutrition in the first 1000 days of life.

Good to know - This is PPIE! Development of a training tool for public and patient involvement and engagement in pediatric oncological research.

Public and Patient Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) in research is still a poorly understood and infrequently practiced concept, although the literature stresses clear benefits for quality of care and research as well as patient satisfaction and empowerment. The presently described project aimed at using different PPIE methods to evaluate the current state of knowledge about and attitude toward PPIE in research among different stakeholders of pediatric oncology in Europe. Based on the findings a tailored training tool directed toward the different stakeholders will be designed. An interdisciplinary steering group developed a mixed-method 3-stage process to (1) investigate the current knowledge and attitudes about PPIE using a Europe-wide cross-sectional online survey directed toward health care professionals (n = 134) and the patient group (patients, survivors, family members, …) (n = 168). The results were analyzed quantitatively, focusing on group comparisons (t-tests, X2 tests). (2) In a live workshop with n = 36 participants (HCPs and patient group) dual moderation teams (HCPs and patient experts) guided the exploration of effective ways for practicing PPIE. Despite classifying PPIE as relevant, both HCPs and patients indicated a low level of knowledge about the concept and terminology (patients: t(334) = -2.82, p = .004; HCPs: t(270) = -2.88, p = .004). While HCPs assumed to already be involving patients in many research areas, this was not perceived by the patient group (X2 (1, N = 304) = 42.70, p < .001). HCPs and patients named similar obstacles for implementing PPIE in research, though numerous creative solutions were found during the workshop (engagement). (3) The outcomes were integrated into a training tool (White-Board movie). Although HCPs and patients acknowledge the benefit of PPIE, the presented results highlight the lack of awareness about the concept, and the need for effective tools for researchers to integrate PPIE throughout the entire research process, thereby contributing to a sustainable change within the scientific culture.

Cidadãos, mídia social e ciência: a Ciência Cidadã como ferramenta de engajamento público na pesquisa com cetáceos

A Ciência Cidadã reúne o interesse dos pesquisadores em obter dados e a disponibilidade do público em produzi-los, favorecendo uma relação recíproca entre academia e sociedade. Essa parceria entre especialistas e público leigo permite o incremento de dados que são incorporados na produção de conhecimento. Este estudo destaca a eficácia da pesquisa colaborativa, por meio de uma rede de voluntários que tem um papel importante na obtenção de dados sobre a ocorrência de cetáceos em águas costeiras do estado do Rio de Janeiro, sudeste do Brasil. As informações foram coletadas a partir de dados inseridos em um grupo da rede social, Facebook, denominado por “Onde estão as Baleias e os Golfinhos?” entre os anos de 2015 e 2019. Um bom diagnóstico para programas de Ciência Cidadã deve contemplar o levantamento de indicadores demográficos sobre as características de seus voluntários. Foi identificada uma maior adesão dos membros do grupo em janeiro, durante o recesso estudantil no Brasil, e no verão, quando a costa é mais frequentada para atividades de recreação e lazer. Os seguidores do grupo são principalmente brasileiros (96,4%), naturais do estado do Rio de Janeiro (49,3%), com maior frequência do gênero feminino (65,0%) e com perfil profissional relacionado às Ciências Ambientais (34,9%). Das informações postadas no grupo, foram registradas 315 avistagens de oito espécies de cetáceos. A popularidade desses animais, como fauna marinha carismática, parece facilitar a disponibilidade das pessoas em contribuir para a aquisição e aperfeiçoamento do conhecimento das espécies. As informações dos voluntários tanto podem complementar os registros feitos por pesquisadores quanto corroborar resultados já obtidos.

Rethinking the Ph.D. dissertation in botany: Widening the circle.

Rethinking the Ph.D. dissertation in botany: Widening the circle.

Air pollution exposure assessment at schools and playgrounds in Williamsburg Brooklyn NYC, with a view to developing a set of policy solutions.

Community science offers unique opportunities for non-professional involvement of volunteers in the scientific process, not just during the data acquisition, but also in other phases, like problem definition, quality assurance, data analysis and interpretation, and the dissemination of results. Moreover, community science can be a powerful tool for public engagement and empowerment during policy formulation. This paper aims to present a pilot study on personal exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and raises awareness of the hazards of air pollution. As part of data acquisition conducted in 2019, high school students gathered data at their schools, schoolyards, and playgrounds using low-cost monitors AirBeam2. The data was automatically uploaded every second onto the AirCasting mobile app. Besides, a stationary network of air monitors (fixed stations) was deployed in the neighborhood to collect real-time ambient air concentrations of PM2.5. Students involved in the project attended workshops, training sessions, and researched to better understand air pollution, as part of their science class curriculum and portfolio. This air quality monitoring was incorporated into the “Our Air/Nuestro Aire” — El Puente grassroots campaign. The main goals of this campaign included sharing the data collected with the community, engaging academic partners to develop a set of policy and urban design solutions, and to be considered into a 5-point policy platform.

Augmented Reality (AR) Supporting Citizen Engagement in Circular Economy

Improving the public’s awareness of and engagement with sustainable practices is essential for transitioning from a linear to a circular economy (CE). This task is not trivial; however, research into new ways of effectively supporting awareness and engagement, especially in view of digitalization trends, is still missing. In this study, we investigate the ability of augmented reality (AR) technology to improve awareness of CE practices and to engage citizens, inclusively, in the CE approach. Specifically, we report on the development of a novel AR engagement tool and present the results of two studies undertaken using this tool to assess the reliability and validity of this engagement practice. The first study focuses on the citizens of a municipality in Greece, and the second focuses on the general public outside the municipality boundaries. Attributes related to user engagement, such as novelty, aesthetics, perceived usability, endurability, focused attention, self-efficacy, perceived learning, and interest in the topic, were assessed, as were factors affecting these attributes related to the participants’ knowledge of CE principles and exposure to similar technologies. The two studies indicate that the AR engagement tool increased social inclusion and community cohesion and was able to successfully bring CE principles and benefits to the public’s attention. Higher engagement levels were observed in participants who had limited exposure to the concept of CE prior to using the AR tool, and its use was found to improve their confidence and interest in CE. This study aspires to contribute to the ongoing discourse on the use of mobile AR and to support further evidence-based development of digital tools for public awareness and engagement.

Developing Data-Rich Video of Surface Water-Groundwater Interactions for Public Engagement.

Communication of hydrologic data to the public can be improved by connecting data to the places they represent. In our example of data communication, we coupled hydrologic data with simultaneously collected video as both a scientific and public engagement tool. This note presents a method for collecting spatially and temporally dense datasets of water-quality and geophysical data on small streams and lakes, and for displaying the data in a user-friendly format using commercially available software. With this method, multiple instruments are mounted on a canoe and a controlled survey float is carried out to collect data. The data stream is georeferenced and logged using an Arduino microcontroller to provide detailed information about spatial variability. We employed these continuous data-collection methods at small streams and lakes across Wisconsin, USA. Comparison of stream-float sensor data to lab reported data, data collected by alternative sensors, and previously collected data in our study areas indicates that the low-cost temperature, electrical conductivity, pH, and dissolved oxygen sensors performed well. GoPro cameras recorded video throughout the duration of data collection. Our established water-quality and geophysical data collection methods are inexpensive, fast, and reliable, which qualify them as excellent tools for fine-scale spatial understanding of stream and lake habitats' health. Data-rich video connects point measurements of water properties to the appearance of the native environment. This method helps improve our understanding of groundwater and surface water interactions in complex hydrogeologic systems, enhance communication amongst stakeholders, and provide context when monitoring and managing sensitive habitats.

The Ethical Smart City Framework &amp; Toolkit: An Inclusive Application of Human-Centered Design and Public Engagement in Smart City Development

The Ethical Smart City (ESC) framework and toolkit were developed in direct response to municipalities interested in transforming into inclusive, sustainable smart cities but did not know how to begin. Presented here, the developed online ESC toolkit and virtual workshop are novel methods for data collection, analysis, and impact assessment for smart city projects. This paper documents our approach and findings for developing the online public engagement tool and its execution, the workshop, for the co-design of smart city projects. We evaluate both the toolkit and workshop using usability heuristics and discuss how the heuristics achieve the three characteristics of an Ethical Smart City workshop.

A Framework for Understanding the Nature of Questions Asked by Audience Participants at Science Cafés

Science Cafés are events designed as public engagement tools that create the opportunity for open dialogue between members of the general public and experts on the issue being discussed at the event. This study explores the nature of questions being asked by audience participants during discussion sessions of Science Café events. It was conducted by coding audio recordings of audience participant engagements at 41 Science Café events held between 2010 and 2019. The result of this analysis produced a novel taxonomic framework to describe audience participant behaviors in terms of their learning goals. This framework was evaluated by applying it to samples of Science Café question data selected by Science Café topic theme. Comparisons between question-asking behaviors for specific Science Café topics and overall trends in question-asking behaviors for all Science Cafés revealed significant changes in audience participant learning goals when asking questions at Science Cafés centered on different topic types. Implications for understanding Science Café audiences and potential developments for Science Café events as public science engagement tools are discussed.

Game-based Climate Change Engagement

Video games have risen as a popular medium with the potential to become a powerful tool for public climate change engagement. However, little is known about how existing digital games can fulfill this role. This study systematically compiles 150 video games that represent climate change, including serious (n = 109) and for entertainment (n = 41). The games are analyzed by adapting an existing framework (15 dimensions: achievable, challenging, concrete, credible, efficacy-enhancing, experiential learning, feedback-oriented, fun, identity-driven, levelling-up, meaningful, narrative-driven, reward-driven, simulating, social) and statistically compared. The analysis reveals that most games comply with most recommended attributes, but credibility, achievability, meaningfulness, and social features are uncommon or rare. Statistical results comparing serious games and games for entertainment associate six attributes with serious games (achievable, challenging, credible, efficacy-enhancing, experiential learning, feedback-oriented), and one (narrative-driven) with games for entertainment. The findings suggest that researchers would benefit from widening their lens to detect previously overlooked opportunities for game-based climate change engagement, communication, and education. The study also provides a systematic mapping of extant games depicting climate change for interested developers, designers and educators.