Consensus conferences as participatory policy analysis, a methodological contribution to the social management of technology

The method of consensus conferences arranges a high-quality analytic debate between a panel of lay people and a panel of experts in the presence of an audience. The attention for consensus conferences matches a more general revival of interest for the concept of participatory policy analysis. However, no comprehensive methodology for participatory policy analysis exists. A preliminary framework on which this methodology could be based is presented. Participatory policy analysis is defined by the authors as 'a practical mode of facilitated analytical inquiry which in different contexts of policy making expands the range of contributors to support the management of knowledge, the decision process and the network relations via the design, application and evaluation of specific fora of communication and participation'. It is illustrated how the consensus conference is used in Europe as a forum for communication and participation of lay men and experts for societal decision making on complex and controversial technological issues such as bio- and gene-technology. Some recent experiences in Europe are described, and particular attention is paid to some of the results of an extensive (quasi-experimental) evaluation study of a consensus conference on the question 'human predictive genetics: where will it lead us?'. This conference and its evaluation were initiated by the Dutch Platform for Science and Ethics. The evaluation focused on the forming of opinions of the members of the lay panel as a result of their participation.