Publications

Effective Focus Groups

Published in 2007 by The Consultation Institute, Effective Focus Groups is a 40-page step-by-step guide to planning and using focus groups as part of a public consultation exercise. The book’s layout allows easy reference, and includes the use of icons to highlight tips, important information, and decision points. The following areas are covered: The definition of a focus group –including recommended size and duration Reasons for holding a focus group (and how it relates to other dialogue methods) Saturation – how many focus groups to use Participant mix, sampling, and how this affects the design Planning a focus group exercise Question construction, including stimuli other than spoken questions Moderation skills (including techniques for discouraging dominant participants) Recording and reporting a focus group A brief outline of related ways of collecting information from a group Bibliography – a list of further reading

Effective Public Meetings

Published in 2008 by The Consultation Institute, Effective Public Meetings is a 52-page step-by-step guide to planning and running public meetings as part of a public consultation exercise; it is, so far, the only book published in the UK to cover the subject in such detail. The book’s layout allows easy reference, and includes the use of icons to highlight tips, important information, and decision points. The following areas are covered: The definition of a public meeting in relation to standards of good practice in public consultation Deciding when a public meeting is appropriate, and how this way of consulting fits in with other dialogue methods for consulting stakeholders and the public Planning for a public meeting, including timing, venues, layout, access, and equipment. Documentation, presentations and speakers Getting people there – advertisement, invitations, incentives, audience-targeting, and accessibility Choosing and briefing chairs and speakers Staffing a public meeting (including security considerations) Advice for chairs on handling participant contributions (including dealing with difficult or verbose participants) Responding to questions Recording, reporting and follow-up Involving the press/media

Effective Surveys and Questionnaires

Published in 2008 by The Consultation Institute, Effective Surveys and Questionnaires is a 61-page step-by-step guide to planning and running a survey and writing a questionnaire as part of a public consultation exercise. The book’s layout allows easy reference, and includes the use of icons to highlight tips, important information, and decision points. The following areas are covered: The definition of a survey in relation to standards of good practice in public consultation Deciding when a survey is appropriate, and how this way of consulting fits in with other dialogue methods for consulting stakeholders and the public Planning a survey – including choosing a survey type, formulating research questions, planning resources, and selecting a sample of respondents. Constructing a questionnaire – including consideration of validity issues, question types, question wording, scaled questions, and rating and ranking Question routing, layout and design – including filters and funnels, rubrics and signposts, and clarity of presentation Web-based (e-)questionnaires – including a consideration of their advantages and disadvantages Trialling, piloting, responses, analysis and reporting – including advice on incentives, cut-off, chasing, data cleaning, data entry, data analysis, and data reporting.

A Decade of Dialogue

In 2013 The Consultation Institute celebrated its 10th anniversary, and to mark the occasion, this book of case studies was produced. The case studies are all taken from the ten years of the Institute’s existence, and represent national and local consultations from across the UK that have provided learning points for everyone involved in consultation. The book discusses each of these learning points (including the need for honesty and integrity, the need for good pre-consultation, the significance of the media, the power of social media and the important – but limited – role of the law) in relation to the case studies and in relation to The Consultation Charter. The final chapter includes a look forward - from senior figures in the Consultation Institute - to the likely future of consultation in the UK.

All three books can be obtained from The Consultation Institute