Guidance on the selection of PTA tools for stakeholders involved in radioactive waste governance

First, a simple comparative chart (called the 'lens') was developed with the aim of giving stakeholder groups a first rough idea of the choices that might precede the organization of a successful learning experience. The 'lens' starts from the possible social learning goals (i.e. the possibility to justify positions, elaborating innovative ideas and/or creative solutions, empowerment and enhancing the access to expertise) that could be activated by PTA methods and then goes on to describe some key characteristics of the topic under discussion (i.e. general knowledge of the topic under discussion, complexity, remaining uncertainties and possibly controversy surrounding the issue) to finally arrive at the PTA technique that presents itself as a likely candidate for application under a particular combination of 'learning goals' and 'characteristics of the topic'. Using this 'lens' as a guideline, it was agreed with Slovenian stakeholders to use one particular PTA technique in order to address the question of local democracy in radioactive waste governance. The 'focus group' technique was chosen, and the report gives detailed advice on how a 'focus group' can be organized. Using this technique important insights could be derived on the conditions for improving local democracy in radioactive waste governance.