Appendix A

The following are sample questions from pre- and post-consultation surveys used by the Hansard Society to capture feedback from site users and registrants, on which the surveys used in Digital Dialogues were based. Questions without a pre-set scale were open and required a written response.

PRE

1. Are you a frequent user of the internet?
2. Where do you access the internet?
3. Have you participated in other online consultations/discussion forums?
4. What are your expectations of online consultation prior to taking part in this forum?
5. Have you been in contact with your local MP before?
6. Have you given evidence to Parliament before?
7. Have you participated in a government consultation before?
8. Nobody in Parliament or government ever listens to people like me. [Agree/Disagree]
9. There is not much I can do to change the way the country is run. [Agree/Disagree]
10. Do you have any other comments to make?

POST

1. Are online consultations a credible means of interaction between the government and the public?
2. Would you participate in government consultations online in the future?
3. Would you recommend participation in government online consultations to others?
4. Briefly, what are the advantages of online consultation as you see them?
5. Briefly, what are the disadvantages of online consultation as you see them?
6. How often did you read other participants’ posts?
7. How often did you visit the forum over its duration?
8. How often did you post a contribution in the forum?
9. If you registered but did not post, briefly tell us why.
10. Did government representatives make sufficient contributions in the forum?
11. In which direction was the main flow of deliberation in the forum?
12. Did you learn anything about X policy from participation in this forum that you did not know previously?
13. Did you learn anything from the other participants in the forum? If yes, outline briefly.
14. What was the main objective of the forum as you understood it?
15. In your opinion, did the forum perform the role it set out to?
16. Briefly describe one aspect of the forum you would change to improve it.
17. Briefly describe one thing you like most about the forum
18. Did you contribute to the consultation by any other means?
19. Please make any other comments you would like to be considered in the evaluation.