Background

One of DEMO-net´s objectives is to improve research on eParticipation by supporting the exchange of experiences and ideas on salient issues between researchers from different disciplines and countries. One of these issues is the evaluation of eParticipation initiatives and projects. Evaluation becomes an issue when planning a participation project (ex ante) or when assessing the effects ex post, when selecting ICT-tools, or when a choice has to be made between different projects for funding. In many eParticipation projects some kind of evaluation is included, either by the project members themselves or by an external third party. But how valid are the concepts and methods applied? Do they meet the standards established for evaluation in other areas such as environment or education?

Objectives

On a one day workshop with those DEMO-net members who have marked “evaluation” as one of their research areas in the DEMO-net survey, we want to get a picture of the state of the art of evaluation in eParticipation research, exchange innovative and path making approaches and identify research challenges.

Organisers: Prof. Dr. Herbert Kubicek, Barbara Lippa & Dr. Hilmar Westholm
Location: Institute for Informationmanagement Bremen, Bremen (Germany)