A range of involvement methods are available. A number of the method available are listed below under the different involvement levels. When undertaking involvement, it is likely that a range of involvement methods will be used.
Click on the method below to find out how it works in practice and to also read a case study about how it has been put into practice.
Level of involvement – Co-production
- Consensus building/dialogue
- Formalised involvement on strategic groups
- Future search
- Participatory appraisal
- Participatory strategic planning
- Steering groups
- Workshop
Level of involvement – Co-design
Level of involvement – Engage and consult
- Citizens’ juries
- Consensus conference
- Consultations
- Deliberative mapping
- Deliberative polling
- Democs (Deliberative meetings of citizens)
- Electronic engagement
- Focus group
- One to one interview
- Panels
- Planning for real
- Policy hack
- Public meetings, roadshows and seminars
- Questionnaires
- World Café
Level of involvement – Inform and educate
Please note that the inclusion of a certain method listed should not be seen as an endorsement, nor should the omission of a particular method mean that it is somehow deficient. There are innumerable different methods being used. In addition, new ones are being invented all the time, so no list can ever be comprehensive. If you would like to include a method, please send details to engage@hscni.net.
Search for an involvement tool
Consider the questions in the box below to help you examine the different tools available to involve people. The methodology chosen will be influenced by the work area you are involved in and the nature of the target audience you are actively seeking to involve.