Perspectives of Public Decision Making in Light of Collaboration: a Q Methodology Study

Suboptimal public policy formulation and implementation often result from traditional representative democratic practices. Increasing fragmentation, eroding trust, and a complex policy making environment contribute to this problem. Collaborative decision making is a pragmatic alternative. This research explored process dynamics leading participants to prefer collaborative decision making approaches such as the diversity, interdependence, and authentic dialogue theory-based model of collaboration in decision making. Participants? perspectives, variability among groups, and preferences for collaborative approaches to public decision making were researched. This study employed Q methodology and Q sample about public decision making. Fifty-four Q sorts were collected from three groups. A second-order factor analysis of ten first-order factors identified higher order views of collaborative, personal-public, and professional-public decision making. Key findings indicate participants support collaborative approaches to decision making. Collaboration facilitators gain insight into participant views of decision making. Collaboration capacity builds deliberation fundamental for democracy.