Participation Unit - Other Engagement Research
Commission for Rural Communities — Open forums exploring Rural Housing Issues (2005): The Commission for Rural Communities, a newly formed arm of the Countryside Agency, launched its first Thematic Inquiry into rural housing issues in September 2005. Working in close partnership with Ipsos MORI, the objective of this programme is to explore the views of residents, business owners and other local stakeholders across case study areas throughout the country, each chosen for the particular housing issues faced. The research is also exploring the views of harder to reach audiences who will be suffering the consequences of lack of affordable rural housing, for example homeless people, those in temporary accommodation and seasonal workers.
In each of the 8 areas we also held 'open' public consultation fora. These were designed and facilitated by Ipsos MORI and attended by various members of the CRC Board. Anyone in the local area with a professional interest in housing was identified and invited by the CRC, and the events were widely publicised in the local media to encourage the attendance of any local residents who feel that they have something to say. The fora included workshop sessions to identify what the local issues were and to develop potential solutions, with both residents and those with a professional interest brainstorming the possibilities. The fora were well attended and during the project as a whole we spoke to over 800 people.
E-democracy work including the Local e-Democracy National Project (ongoing): Ipsos MORI has carried out a number of projects for the Local e-Democracy National Project assessing e-democracy activity at a local authority level in England. This work has included a comprehensive literature review of e-democracy activities around the world conducted by Ipsos MORI Market Dynamics, and a web based survey of local authorities conducted by the Social Research Institute. Both reports are available from www.e-democracy.gov.uk
Transport for London — Challenging public perceptions towards cycling (2005): Ipsos MORI have recently completed a study for TfL looking at public perceptions of cyclists and cycling to answer the question 'Does giving people knowledge about, and experience of, cycling encourage them to change their views?'. We used a three-stage research design — deliberative workshops to understand people's views surrounding cycling, an immersion exercise in which participants were given a bike to use for a week to see how they found the experience, and finally, reconvened groups in which participants could talk about the immersion task and the impact it had on their views. Our approach enabled TfL to gain a deeper understanding of participants' attitudes towards cycling, and the extent to which these views might change when subjected to advertising and information. It also helped them understand the impact of actively encouraging people to try cycling, rather than just asking people to anticipate what their reactions might be.
New Deal for Communities (2004): as part of the national evaluation of this initiative funded by the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit, Ipsos MORI was asked to understand how local residents judged the impact and success of the NDC Programme, focusing particularly on approaches to consultation and community involvement. In total 78 focus groups were conducted across the 39 NDC areas, with two discussions in each area. Each NDC received an individual report of the research findings with the overall report drawing out lessons on the key factors that appear to influence perceptions and levels of involvement.
Home Office — Understanding views of police foot patrols (2004): We conducted a series of depth interviews about police foot patrols. The aim of the research was to develop an understanding of why people find these patrols reassuring. To get beyond initial knee-jerk responses the project used deliberative and projective techniques to aid participants in developing their thinking. For example, they were asked to chart their journey home from work and to highlight any 'danger spots' so that the attributes of these areas could be analysed.
Southend Council — Community Planning Forums (2002 & 2003): These involved meetings with over one hundred people to review plans and consider the future. These were a mixture of residents (which Ipsos MORI recruited on a broadly representative basis from among the general public), and stakeholders and community group leaders, which the Council invited. Ipsos MORI helped with the planning, chaired the event, moderating break-outs, and trained council staff to undertake further moderation. Ipsos MORI then fed back the findings and outputs.
Royal Borough of Kingston Youth Consultation (2002): Kingston Council's Youth Forum was set up to give voice to young people in the borough. As part of this, Ipsos MORI held a one day event — a 'Have Your Say Day' — which was attended by 75 people. These included 25 'professionals' from the Council and its partners, including the Chief Executive, and some 40 young people from across the borough including from local schools, youth clubs, young carers, looked-after young people, those leaving care, the Disabled Children Team and the Refugee and Asylum Seekers' Team. Ipsos MORI worked with a key group of young people in designing the topic guides, and used a number of discussion groups and role-play exercises involving both the adults and young people to structure the day. Our subsequent report was action-based, with practical suggestions for the Council and its partners.