Bias alleviation and value activation in citizens’ juries: Enhancing deliberation and civic engagement in sustainable food systems

Citizens’ Juries (CJs) are increasingly implemented as a means to engage citizens in deliberation on complex policy challenges, yet their effectiveness can be undermined by cognitive biases and limited value-driven reasoning. This study evaluates the impact of bias alleviation and value activation e...

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Main Authors: Burger, Maximilian Nicolaus, Nilgen, Marco, Vollan, Björn
Format: Artículo preliminar
Language:Inglés
Published: International Food Policy Research Institute 2024
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/169372
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author Burger, Maximilian Nicolaus
Nilgen, Marco
Vollan, Björn
author_browse Burger, Maximilian Nicolaus
Nilgen, Marco
Vollan, Björn
author_facet Burger, Maximilian Nicolaus
Nilgen, Marco
Vollan, Björn
author_sort Burger, Maximilian Nicolaus
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Citizens’ Juries (CJs) are increasingly implemented as a means to engage citizens in deliberation on complex policy challenges, yet their effectiveness can be undermined by cognitive biases and limited value-driven reasoning. This study evaluates the impact of bias alleviation and value activation exercises on deliberative quality and civic engagement in four CJs conducted in Bogotá, Colombia. Two juries incorporated these exercises as treatment interventions, and two served as controls with extended deliberation time. Results reveal that deliberation itself modestly reduced confirmation bias compared to non-participants, while the structured interventions enhanced participants’ awareness of biases and value-based reasoning. However, the interventions did not significantly reduce the occurrence of biases and led to a perceived trade-off with deliberation time. Participation in CJs also showed improved trust in science and political self-efficacy, demonstrating their potential to foster civic engagement. These findings highlight the nuanced benefits and limitations of integrating debiasing interventions into mini-publics to enhance deliberative quality and equity in policymaking.
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spelling CGSpace1693722025-12-02T21:03:13Z Bias alleviation and value activation in citizens’ juries: Enhancing deliberation and civic engagement in sustainable food systems Burger, Maximilian Nicolaus Nilgen, Marco Vollan, Björn democracy environmental economics food systems participatory research public participation sustainability Citizens’ Juries (CJs) are increasingly implemented as a means to engage citizens in deliberation on complex policy challenges, yet their effectiveness can be undermined by cognitive biases and limited value-driven reasoning. This study evaluates the impact of bias alleviation and value activation exercises on deliberative quality and civic engagement in four CJs conducted in Bogotá, Colombia. Two juries incorporated these exercises as treatment interventions, and two served as controls with extended deliberation time. Results reveal that deliberation itself modestly reduced confirmation bias compared to non-participants, while the structured interventions enhanced participants’ awareness of biases and value-based reasoning. However, the interventions did not significantly reduce the occurrence of biases and led to a perceived trade-off with deliberation time. Participation in CJs also showed improved trust in science and political self-efficacy, demonstrating their potential to foster civic engagement. These findings highlight the nuanced benefits and limitations of integrating debiasing interventions into mini-publics to enhance deliberative quality and equity in policymaking. 2024-12-31 2025-01-17T20:24:53Z 2025-01-17T20:24:53Z Working Paper https://hdl.handle.net/10568/169372 en Open Access application/pdf International Food Policy Research Institute Burger, Maximilian Nicolaus; Nilgen, Marco; and Vollan, Björn. 2024. Bias alleviation and value activation in citizens’ juries: Enhancing deliberation and civic engagement in sustainable food systems. IFPRI Discussion Paper 2320. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/169372
spellingShingle democracy
environmental economics
food systems
participatory research
public participation
sustainability
Burger, Maximilian Nicolaus
Nilgen, Marco
Vollan, Björn
Bias alleviation and value activation in citizens’ juries: Enhancing deliberation and civic engagement in sustainable food systems
title Bias alleviation and value activation in citizens’ juries: Enhancing deliberation and civic engagement in sustainable food systems
title_full Bias alleviation and value activation in citizens’ juries: Enhancing deliberation and civic engagement in sustainable food systems
title_fullStr Bias alleviation and value activation in citizens’ juries: Enhancing deliberation and civic engagement in sustainable food systems
title_full_unstemmed Bias alleviation and value activation in citizens’ juries: Enhancing deliberation and civic engagement in sustainable food systems
title_short Bias alleviation and value activation in citizens’ juries: Enhancing deliberation and civic engagement in sustainable food systems
title_sort bias alleviation and value activation in citizens juries enhancing deliberation and civic engagement in sustainable food systems
topic democracy
environmental economics
food systems
participatory research
public participation
sustainability
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/169372
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