Foundation Differences
       Public versus Private For-Profit Agencies
  • Private For-Profit Organizations respond to narrow 
   bands of self-interest as defined by customers and 
   markets
  • Ideally, Public Organizations act/invest in ways that 
   advance the public interest and democracy
  Survey research and citizen engagement processes 
  should reflect these differences
  Paradigm Shift: Citizen engagement that promotes 
  convergence between democracy and the public 
  interest
            Paradigm Shift in the Logic of Survey Research
                          Strategic Investment Decisions
      •  Step 1. Establish need to Change: Global 
         economy, growing fiscal challenges, and 
         pluralism
      •  Step 2. Frame of Reference -The Public 
         Interest/Community Well-Being: Reflect on 
         basic values and societal responsibilities 
      •  Step 3. Public Support for Investment: 
         Economic Development, Community 
         Development, Transportation, and Water  
      •  Step 4. Demonstrated Trust: From Spending 
         to Investment
         -Describe your approval rating for how your 
         money has been invested
         (Strongly Disapprove, Disapprove, Somewhat 
         Disapprove, Somewhat Approve, Approve, 
         Strongly Approve) 
         -The community is a better place because we 
         invested in…….(Definitely False, Probably False, 
         Probably True, Definitely True)
      •  Step 5. Investment Priorities and 
         Opportunity Costs:  Recommended change in 
         the level of investment..…(Much Less, Less, No 
         Change, More, Much More)
      •  Step 6. Priorities and Willingness to Pay:  
         “I’m willing to pay increased taxes or fees to pay 
         for investment…(Definitely Not Willing to Pay, 
         Probably Not Willing to Pay, probably Willing to 
         Pay, Definitely Willing to Pay)
          Defining the Public Interest
    – Index Component 1: Balancing Self-
     Interest & Community Well-Being
     • I am willing to put community interests 
      above personal interests (71.7%)
     • Most people are willing to put community 
      interests above personal interest (28.2%)