Founded in 2017, Diffley Partnership conducts deliberative research across issues including public health, child poverty and public transport.  

Deliberative studies in the new unit will focus on recruiting what it terms a ‘mini-public’ of around 40 participants, with a range of demographic characteristics, locations of residence, viewpoints and behaviours.

The group of people will participate in a few online and offline events, typically spread over five or six months, with polling, focus groups and participative research methods incorporated into the research design.

The launch follows several recent commissions from clients including Transport Scotland, the Health Foundation, Obesity Action Scotland, and Save the Children. 

Mark Diffley, director and founder of the Diffley Partnership, said: “As well as polls to find out what the public thinks, often clients ask us to delve deeper into a topic. Deliberative research is a way for them to understand what drives informed public opinion by way of a mini-public.”