| What began as a project to fulfill statutory requirements of master plan development in New York State became an investigation into the enhancement of public participation through the use of web-based survey instruments. This is germane to smaller towns and villages which often lack financial resources to establish and maintain complex interactive planning websites. The literature suggest the advantages of increased access to and communication with government, survey administration, cost effectiveness and data analysis balance the potential limitations of selection bias, limited access and survey methodology. Findings suggest there may be some merit to the use of these instruments in these settings and therefore warrant further study of the topic. |
