Engagement methods
Qualitative methods: e-involvement
Description
There are many different forms of e-involvement. These vary considerably in terms of approaches and aims. The most basic type might be a form on the Force website for members of the public to fill in and email back. At the other end of the spectrum are well structured and managed e-participation sites allowing for more of a dialogue between participants. These could be bulletin boards where participants post their views and respond to the postings already on the site. Or it could be more carefully moderated discussions, more akin to a virtual focus group.
When to use
E-involvement can be an appropriate tool to use when looking to engage a large number of busy, or geographically dispersed people. It can also be a useful approach when subject matter is sensitive and individual anonymity is important. E-involvement can be used at all stages of decision-making from identifying needs to reviewing existing policies and services.
Strengths
- They can be convenient for people as there is no need for everyone to be in the same place at the same time
- Can be a good way of involving large numbers of people across a wide geographical area
- Can be a relatively cheap form of community engagement
Weaknesses
- Is not suitable for involving some parts of a community as access to the internet is not widespread across all groups in society
- Can be difficult to design in a way that enables a dialogue to take place between participants
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