Criteria Definition of evaluation criteria Refs. † 1. Useful information The process produced data and information that are useful and valid as a basis for decision making or for further analyses. 4,7,9, 10       2. Increase understanding of the concerns of other stakeholder groups The process led to a better understanding among participants (each other’s languages, approaches, viewpoints and so forth). 2,5,9       3. Improve system understanding The process enlightened the participants about the most important issues of water management in the area. 1,2,5,9,10       4. Incorporate stakeholder values, assumptions, and preferences into decision making The process led participants to discuss values, assumptions and preferences, resulting in their incorporation into analyses and decisions. 2,3,5,9       5. Assure credibility of the outputs The process produced outputs that stakeholders believe to correspond to reality. 9       6. Increase data transparency The process contributed to solve the problem of data inconsistency due to different data sources. 6,8       7. Foster trust in institutions The process increased trust in the University and the River Basin Authority. 2,3,6

† 1 - Webler et al. 1995; 2 - Beierle 1998; 3 - Beierle and Konisky 2000; 4 - Rowe and Frewer 2000;
5 - Webler et al. 2001; 6 - Coleto et al. 2003; 7 - Rowe and Frewer 2004; 8 - Llamas 2005;
9 - Burguess and Chilvers 2006; 10 - Lynam et al. 2007.