Case studies

The Schiphol Regional Airport Council (ORS) is a consultative and advisory body where issues, interests and parties surrounding the development of Schiphol Airport and the surrounding area come together. However, relations within the ORS have been seriously disrupted. It remains important to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management that the area surrounding Schiphol continues to be involved in decisions relating to Schiphol. To this end, they want to strengthen the participation and information provision for residents around Schiphol. This is why the Ministry and the ORS engaged us to generate insights using the PVE method as a basis for further steps.

The PVE method is often used to explore the ideas, preferences and values of citizens and local residents. But digital participation is also very suitable for smaller consultations. Even within companies and organisations! The organisation ‘s Heeren Loo wanted to renew their corporate strategy. Using our PVE method, board members and other stakeholders were able to participate in a low-threshold way.

The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management determines who and when a person has to be inspected to see if they are medically able to drive safely. What do Dutch people think of the regulation now? And what would they prefer to see different? Would they, for example, like their own general practitioner to play a greater role in medical examinations? To find answers to these questions, we conducted a participation process based on a PVE. More than 6,500 Dutch citizens participated in the survey.

Súdwest-Fryslân wants to make its energy use more sustainable. The municipality engaged us to find out what its citizens think is important in the energy transition. We designed our consultation with 40-50 citizens. Normally we design with professionals, so this was also new for us! The participation process and our scientific method were successful. It was nominated for the Galjaard Prize!

The government published its long-term corona strategy on April 1, 2022. For this, the government needed information about what goals Dutch people want to achieve with the strategy. The Behavioral Unit of the RIVM asked us to conduct an online consultation. This allows the government to make policies that better meet the needs of citizens.

Currently, we use most raw materials and products only once. To deal more sustainably with the limited amount of raw materials and products, circular business models are needed. For example, we can make more use of recycled or second-hand products. But which forms of circular business models appeal more or less to people? We investigated this for the Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Managementand and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management.

Populytics studied how different measures change people’s online buying behavior. Dutch people are increasingly ordering goods via the Internet. This has positive effects but also negative ones. The government wants to reduce the negative effects and stimulate conscious buying behavior. Therefore they not only want to know which measures work but also which people will accept.

The government would like to be well prepared for different possible developments of the coronavirus. We conducted research for the Behavioral Unit of the RIVM. We investigated which coronavirus measures Dutch people do and do not want. The participants were also shown the consequences of their choice.

Many European countries have agreed to do more to combat climate change. This includes the Netherlands. The government will have to decide what measures it will take to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases such as CO2. The parliament has previously indicated that they would like to involve society in this.

How do you create a regional energy strategy that fits the needs of your residents? How can you hear all residents, even those who don’t speak loudly? This is exactly where our specialism lies. That’s why Regio Foodvalley asked us to research the ideas of their residents.