Updated 10/2010
Guides and Toolboxes
- Public Participation Toolbox (
) - International Association for Public Participation - Concise overview of techniques, advantages and disadvantages, 2000-2004.
- Public Participation Spectrum (
) - International Association for Public Participation, 2007.
- Strategies for Reconnecting Citizens and Government, MRSC Focus, June 2001 - This MRSC Focus paper summarizes the information and materials on MRSC's Effective Communication/Citizen Involvement webpages.
- Governments are from Saturn...Citizens are from Jupiter: Strategies for Reconnecting Citizens and Government, MRSC, 1998 - Innovative approaches and examples.
- Innovations in Public Involvement for Transportation Planning, prepared by Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 1994 - Good overviews of participation techniques, advantages, drawbacks and costs.
- Public Involvement Techniques for Transportation Decision-Making, FHA, 1996.
- URP Toolbox Alphabetical Tool List, Urban Research Program, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia - Profiles 63 types of participatory processes such as citizen juries, deliberative opinion polls, focus groups, and more traditional public meetings. Includes advantages and disadvantages, appropriate uses and other information.
- Putting the People into Planning: A Primer on Public Participation in Planning, University of Oregon Department of Planning, Public Policy and Management - Although Oregon-oriented, provides useful "how-to" information.
- SeaTac, WA - Creating a Sense of Value: Building Citizen Commitment - Course materials and very useful tips, AWC Workshop PowerPoint presentation by John Daly, March 14, 2001.
- Public Deliberation: A Manager's Guide to Citizen Engagement (
), Carolyn J. Lukensmeyer and Lars Hasselblad Torres, IBM Center for the Business of Government, 2006 - New report from the IBM Center for the Business of Government documents a range of tools and techniques to increase two-way communication and citizens’ involvement in communities and government.
- Shaping the Tools of Re-Invention: Good Citizens, Better Communities by Dave Davis, President, Initiatives, Local Government Commission copyright, 2004 - Brief overview of several useful techniques.
- Talking in Public About Growth and Development, Funders' Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities, revised October 2006 - Values-based communications frame for smart growth - Advice, checklists, and pointers which are based on nationwide focus group research, media analysis, and follow-up work with advocates and policymakers.
- Communicating Smart Growth Report (
), Funders Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities, August 2004.
- Civic Participation and Smart Growth: Improving How Communities and Places Grow and Change, Funders Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities, updated 2007.
- Fostering Dialogue Across Divides: A Nuts and Bolts Guide from the Public Conversations Project (
), Maggie Herzig and Laura Chasin, 2006 – Clearly written guide to using techniques that foster dialog to increase mutual understanding and make possible collaborative action on divisive issues.

