Participation methods

The means by which participation is solicited in a conference very much influence the degree of participation. Methods must be considered to evoke the degree and kind of participation suitable to the task at hand. There is no such thing as a "participatory" or a "non-participatory" conference. Eliciting participation requires thinking through, either as an organizer or as a conference goer, the points at which the group's input is most urgent, and focusing efforts there. It is also necessary to consider how to prevent a flood of impractical "good ideas" and "free advice" from the group.

Voting on a measure offered from someone else is a very restrained form of participation. Creating such measures is much more involved and requires considerably more group involvement and responsibility. Small group discussions, plenary reporting, the giving of papers and reports must not be automatically assumed, but thought through.