Ladders, stars and triangles: old and new theory for the practice of public participation

John May

The practice of public participation has remarkably little theory it can call its own. This paper considers the best-known theory – the Ladder of Participation – and updates it to reflect changes in thinking since the original ladder was published.
  

Ladders, Stars and Triangles: Old and New Theory for the Practice of Public Participation

John MayMiddlesex Business School and the Metropolitan Police Authority

INTRODUCTION

The practice of public participation has remarkably little theory it can call its own. There is, of course, the whole body of statistical survey theory on which practitioners regularly call, and – rather less often used – there are the theories underlying qualitative research. But in terms of theory that has been developed specifically for and from the practice of public participation there is very little. This paper looks at the best known...

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