You may have seen some info about Delib’s comms strategy during the coronavirus crisis. If you missed it, see here.

In summary, Delib has a lot of knowledge to share regarding bringing participation processes online, which a lot of public bodies are having to contend with at the moment. This post rounds up all of these resources in one place.


This roundup features content we shared on the 22nd April and the 29th April. From now on it’ll go out once a week.

On the 22nd April, we shared some links on the topic of response analysis:

  • 1. The foundation of simple and effective data analysis lies in how you design your consultation or survey to begin with. This article has some great tips on how to plan and prepare your consultation in order to get the most out of your data.
  • 2. Part two of Delib’s ‘Getting started with data analysis’ series focuses on different ways you can analyse the responses you’ve received, when each method would be useful, and why. It’s written about Citizen Space, but can be applied universally.
  • 3. Part three of our analysis series is all about how to produce a great feedback report. Once you’ve analysed all your responses it’s important to publicise your findings – here are some tips on the best ways to do so.
  • 4. To properly analyse qualitative (free text rather than yes/no or numerical) responses, you’ll need to code or tag them – broadly, break them up into themes. This article gives an excellent breakdown on how to do code qualitative data effectively.
  • 5. A detailed guide from Pew Research Centre on the effects that survey and question design can have on the data you get back.
  • 6. Finally, this article gives a clear and concise explanation on how to get the best out of quantitative data.

On 29th April, we shared some resources on good form and survey design, in association with forms expert Caroline Jarrett:

  • 1. A good form is clear and concise in both its instruction and its completion, and gathers all the information an administrator needs. This set of slides is from a presentation given by Caroline and gives a rundown on both good and bad form design.
  • 2. Caroline has also done a lot of work on surveys – again, an element that’s common in the process of consultation. Here’s a recording of a great presentation she did on the ‘Survey Octopus’ (watch it & find out) and getting the most out of your survey data.
  • 3. I recommend watching the above presentation in full – there’s some really excellent insight in there – but if you’d prefer just the slides, you can find them here.
  • 4. Caroline advised on this very useful and universally applicable style guide in the NHS digital service manual: ‘How to write good questions for forms.’
  • 5. “Technology will never solve the problem of asking a bad question.” This interview with Caroline gives a useful summary of the work she’s done during her career and some good points about the benefits and limitations of digital.
  • 6. Lastly, Caroline has a book, written with Gerry Gaffney, called Forms that Work. You can buy it on Amazon

Visit Caroline’s website or follow her on Twitter.

Thanks for reading. If someone you know would benefit from receiving this roundup via email, here’s a link to the signup form

It was great collaborating with Caroline this week and lots of people found her work really handy. If you’ve got expertise that would be useful to public servants at this time, get in touch and perhaps we can join forces.

Stay safe, everyone, and have a good week.