A number of evaluation researchers have focused their interest
on criteria for “good” or “effective” participation processes
(Webler 1995, Rowe and Frewer 2000, Syme and Nancarrow
2002, Marks 2004, Rowe and Frewer 2004), which can be of
interest for participation process designers. For example,
Rowe et al. (2001) suggest that their nine criteria for
“effective” participation processes, e.g., representativeness of
selected participants or unbiasedness of the process, can also
be used “a priori to ensure the effectiveness of an exercise
application” (italics in original). Similarly, Webler (1995) in
a much cited work on evaluating discourse, proposed a
comprehensive set of detailed rules and subrules that can be
used to shape design. Recognizing that different political and
social contexts require different process designs, some
evaluation researchers have set up a research agenda that is
attempting to systematically categorize participation contexts
and match them to different types of processes (Rowe and
Frewer 2004).