Toward a Framework for Research on Geographic Information-Supported Participatory Decision-Making

This article offers a framework for evaluating geographic information technology applied in the context of participatory problem solving and decision-making. The framework consists of constructs and detailed aspects describing significant issues of participatory decision-making. Constructs reflect the structure, while aspects address the content of participatory decisionmaking. Aspects are tied through premises, which present fundamental statements about the nature of convening, process, and outcome phases of decision-making. The power of the framework lies in linking premises with research questions and testable hypotheses, which can be formulated on the bases of research questions. Empirically based testing of hypotheses leads in turn to verification of theoretical framework and to design guidelines for future uses of geographic information technology in participatory decision-making. in environmental decision-making called the “analytic-deliberative process.” The model involves three consecutive steps: 1) identification and selection of concerns and evaluation criteria; 2) identification and measurement of impacts and consequences related to different policy options; and 3) conducting a discourse with randomly selected citizens as jurors and representation of interest groups as witnesses. This model was applied with different results in Germany, Switzerland, and the United States. While participants in Germany and Switzerland were grateful for the invitation to participate, U.S. participants distrusted prefabricated participation models and suspected hidden agendas with such an approach. This underscores the cultural differences that come into play in participatory decision-making. Renn concluded that the success of public involvement in the U.S. would depend on securing approval of the process by the affected communities before that process is put into play. Based on multiple empirical studies in Europe and North America, Renn also concluded that discursive/ participatory processes needed a structure that assures the integration of technical expertise, regulatory requirements, and public values. Other authors (for example, Pickles 1995) postulated that participatory decision-making should become a tool of political discourse challenging the instrumental logic of the existing practice of decision-making. This, according to Pickles, may require using a different logic than a normative approach to the decision-making process. Shiffer (1995) saw the promise of Internet-based participatory decision-making, but at same time admits potential difficulties arising from involving computer-technology challenged people and differential understanding of information presented through virtual images and map-based representations. Weiner et al. (2001:13) expressed belief in potential contributions of public participation geographic information systems (PPGISs) stating that “Future PPGIS academic research can thus contribute