Epstein et al.: The Value of Words: Narrative as Evidence in Policy Making

Dmitri Epstein , Cynthia R. Farina , and Josiah Heidt have published The Value of Words: Narrative as Evidence in Policy Making , Evidence and Policy , 10, 243-258 (2014).

Here is the abstract:

Policy makers today rely primarily on technical data as their basis for decision making. Yet, there is a potentially underestimated value in substantive reflections of the members of the public who will be affected by a particular regulation. Viewing professional policy makers and professional commenters as a community of practice, we describe their limited shared repertoire with the lay members of the public as a significant barrier to participation. Based on our work with Regulation Room, we offer an initial typology of narratives — complexity, contributory context, unintended consequences, and reframing — as a first step towards overcoming conceptual barriers to effective civic engagement in policy making.

Filed under: Applications, Articles and papers Tagged: Administrative law information systems, Citizens' participation in erulemaking, Citizens' participation in lawmaking, Citizens' participation in rulemaking, Crowdlaw, Cynthia R. Farina, Dmitry Epstein, erulemaking, erulemaking systems, Evidence and Policy, Josiah Heidt, Legal communication, Legal evidence information systems, Legal narrative, Narrative and evidence in erulemaking, Narrative and evidence in rulemaking processes, Narrative and legal evidence, Regulation Room, Regulatory information systems



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