Visualizing the discourse qualities using Discourse Quality Index

Based on a simulated citizen participation workshop concerning the treatment of removed soil outside Fukushima prefecture

Abstract

In public deliberation, citizens are expected to discuss the issues referring to common goods such as utilitarianism, equality principle, and maximin principle. The present study conducted a simulated citizen participation workshop concerning the treatment of removed soil outside Fukushima. The purpose of this study was to visualize the quality of the discussion using the Discourse Quality Index (DQI) and text-mining. Results from the DQI found that utilitarian perspectives such as minimizing risks and costs were most frequently mentioned in the common goods, while few statements were made from the perspective of maximin principle. In addition, many concerns of reputational damage and public understanding were referred. Text-mining analysis revealed that "Fukushima" did not appear many times, and "safety" was strongly associated with recycling. These indicate that the discussion in the workshop mentioned more the risks and people's reactions to them than the burdens of Fukushima residents.