Deliberation and internet engagement: initial findings from a randomised controlled trial evaluating the impact of facilitated internet forums

Public authorities are increasingly using information and communication technology (ICT) to engage citizens in the politics, in particular through internet discussion forums. This paper reports findings from a large-scale online randomised controlled trail of 6,009 participants that aims to test the effect of online deliberation on policy preferences. Participants were randomised between four treatment groups and two control groups. All four treatment groups were exposed to the same information and participants were able to post their views. However, in only two of the treatment groups were participants able to read and respond to the postings of others. The analysis uses Compliance Average Causal Effects (CACE) models to show the impact of deliberation. The paper finds that deliberation shifts participants’ views on youth anti-social behaviour, but that participation in online deliberation tends to reinforce extant political inequalities.