Operationalising the public in participatory technology assessment: a framework for comparison applied to three cases

摘要

This article suggests that research on participatory technology assessment (PTA) ought to aim for more systematic comparative research, spanning diverse procedural designs and contexts. The article accounts for the development of a theory-generated, operational framework to guide mapping and comparisons of PTAs. The framework consists of a matrix of research questions derived from a Luhmann-inspired analysis of social functions fulfilled by participatory procedures, addressing issues of risk, trust and mediation. This framework is applied to analyse three recent PTA procedures regarding agricultural biotechnology from Denmark, the UK and Germany. In conclusion, some challenges facing such procedures are discussed.