Measuring Fairness in Citizen Participation: A Case Study of Moose Management

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Abstract
We conducted a case study of the citizen participation processes used by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) when deciding whether to reintroduce moose to New York. We studied how citizens perceived the fairness and quality of the process and identified the criteria on which they based their perceptions. Our work was grounded in research on the social psychology of procedural fairness. Research was conducted in three phases: a document analysis, a series of interviews, and a mail survey of citizens who commented on the issue. Citizens' perceptions of the fairness of the process were related to four criteria: DEC's receptivity to citizen input; the influence citizens had over the decision; the quality of DEC's knowledge and reasoning; and the degree to which relationships improved during the process. Perceptions of the fairness of the process were related to satisfaction with the process, perceptions of fairness ofthe decision, and satisfaction with DEC.