Do Participants Change Their Preferences in the Deliberative Process?

Abstract

This paper analyzes the way participants change their mind in a deliberative
forum. Its contribution lies in studying the extent to which these changes
persist over time. We start from Mackie’s assumption that changes of
opinion in a deliberative context cannot be interpreted by considering
isolated variables, but must be based on individual attitudinal networks in
which preferences are embedded. The results show that certain changes
after deliberation are not maintained by some individuals. The paper
details the importance of certain variables in the change of opinion in the
short and long term, as well as the relationship that exists between different
attitudes (information, preferences, beliefs and political effi cacy) at
three different times before and after deliberation.