Glossary B

 

Back Checking

A quality control process by which the eligibility of market research participants is checked after they have taken part in a study, usually by re-contacting a proportion of them.

Backcasting

A dialogue method of analysing alternative futures. Its major distinguishing characteristic is a concern with how desirable futures can be attained. It involves working backwards from a desired future end-point or set of goals to the present to determine the physical feasibility of that particular future and the policy measures required to reach that end point. Backcasting is similar to visioning, however backcasts are not intended to reveal what the future will be, but rather to weigh up a number of possible futures, and decide the implications and preferable options, then to map out steps along the way.

Baseline Study

A process to identify all relevant consultation and/or public engagement exercises conducted wholly or partly in the name of the organisation, and to gather such information as will assist in managing such activities to meet agreed standards and stakeholder expectations

Benchmarking

A process of information gathering and data normalisation to enable meaningful comparisons between organisations, processes or other activities.

Note: Consultation Benchmarking is found in two forms

  • Process benchmarking – which is a comparison of the cross-related processes used by different organisations
  • Data benchmarking – which is a comparison of the consultation output obtained from a range of sufficiently comparable consultation exercises

Best Practice

Processes or activities regarded by experienced practitioners as representing a high level of performance, justifying commendation and emulation.

 

Bias

An intentional or unintentional predilection towards influencing the outcome of a consultation by the context, statements made or the formulation of the questions asked.

 Note:

  • In the statistical sense Bias is a term which refers to how far the average statistic lies from the parameter it is estimating, that is, the error which arises when estimating a quantity. Errors from chance will cancel each other out in the long run, those from bias will not.

Bilateral Meetings

These are formal meetings usually between government and a stakeholder organization often used to identify, define or clarify issues and increase knowledge base on the issues. This category is part of a public involvement plan or strategy and excludes intermittent business meetings with stakeholders.

Black & Minority Ethnic groups (BME)

Black and Minority Ethnic Groups. Often a focus for efforts in accessing the ‘Hard-to-Reach’.

Blog

A blog is a website in which journal entries are posted on a regular basis and displayed in reverse chronological order. They can be done by an individual or can be collaborative. The term blog is a shortened form of weblog or web log. Often blogs focus on a particular "area of interest" and can be a potent form of consultation when, for example, the blogger uses an entry or entries to solicit views and opinions about a policy or decision etc.

Note: 

  • In Local Government a councillor can use a blog to offer constituents an opportunity to express views on a forthcoming issue.
  • Ditto Members of Parliament etc.

Borda preferendum

See Modified Borda Count

Brainstorming

Technique designed to promote creative and original thinking. A topic is raised for discussion and people call out any thoughts that come to mind. These are recorded via a whiteboard or overhead projector for all to see to stimulate further thought; they can then be categorised and prioritised for further action.

See also Graffiti Wall

Breakthroughs

Shifts of “mind and heart" that occur when human beings are engaged in open-ended dialogue and inquiry.

Brief                      

Information given to a consultor outlining the client's reasons for requiring research and its significant parameters, including key research questions, timing and cost requirements. This may be captured in a single briefing document and/or will emerge in the course of a briefing meeting.