Example public administration dissertation topic 7:

‘Citizen juries’ as a means of allocating discretionary budgets – A qualitative study

The development of discretionary community project funds within district councils has led many to seek ways to actively involve members of the public in deciding how such moneys should be allocated. This dissertation queries whether the establishment of transient ‘citizen juries’ would be a workable mechanism for such bodies as it would ensure that ever-changing and fully representational sections of society were involved in the decision-making process. Seeking to carry out primary research with councillors, community leaders and existing members of such public project fund committees, this is a dissertation that could easily be tailored to an individual geographic area to which the researcher has ease of access.

Suggested initial topic reading:

• Rowe, R. and Shepherd, M. (2002). Public participation in the new NHS: No closer to citizen control? Social Policy & Administration, 36(3), pp. 275-290.
• Ryfe, D. M. (2002). The practice of deliberative democracy: A study of 16 deliberative organizations. Political Communication, 19(3), pp. 359-377.
• Wakeford, T. (2002). Citizens’ juries: A radical alternative for social research. Social Research Update, 37, pp. 1-5.