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A randomized controlled trial (RCT) with employees of local governments across the US shows that a short online learning program using concepts from moral psychology can help bridge ideological divides, allowing officials to better collaborate and solve problems.

NEW YORK, November 14, 2022 – The Constructive Dialogue Institute (CDI) and Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) have released a joint research study, Bridging Political Divides in Local Government, recommending methods to enhance cooperation within local governments.

Now that the midterms are over, Americans should turn their attention toward their community governments that have more ability to influence their daily lives. Despite political polarity on the federal level trickling down locally, citizens still find their local officials trustworthy. There’s an opportunity for local officials to build on this trust and improve the health of our democracy by strengthening collaboration. The randomized controlled trial conducted by CDI and GFOA to test the effectiveness of CDI’s online learning program called Perspectives is significant because it presents a practical tool they can leverage to do just that.

Perspectives contains eight 30-minute lessons that weave together psychological concepts with interactive scenarios. Moral Foundations Theory is a core concept used in the program to help learners understand the root of ideological differences so they can develop the mindset and skills to work with others, even in moments of contention. Compared with participants who did not complete the program, learners who completed Perspectives were able to:

• Better recognize the limits of their own knowledge and be more open to the viewpoints of others
• View people holding different beliefs with less animosity and more warmth
• Think about potentially divisive issues in more nuanced ways

“At the Constructive Dialogue Institute, we value research, and randomized controlled trials are the most reliable and valid form of scientific research,” said Mylien Duong, Ph.D., senior director of research at the Constructive Dialogue Institute. “These positive outcomes demonstrate that partisan division is not beyond repair. We have low-cost, accessible tools at our fingertips that can change how we think about politics, our differences, approaching community challenges, and engaging with each other in all aspects of life.”

Additionally, the report recommends five things that local officials can do, at little to no cost, to start a reversal of polarization in our society.

“Local leaders can make a shift now with minimal time and resources. By learning about their own moral foundations, recognizing the moral foundations in policy conflicts, and reframing goals and strategies, they can put our democracy back on track and better serve their communities,” said GFOA Executive Director Chris Morrill.

GFOA is recruiting local government teams and individuals to participate in the Perspectives program through their Rethinking Budgeting initiative aiming to employ innovative ideas to aid communities. To sign up and learn more, local government employees can visit http://www.gfoa.org/perspectives. Non-government communities and individuals looking to explore Perspectives can find more information at constructivedialogue.org. The online learning program is free to use for educators.

About the Constructive Dialogue Institute (CDI)
Co-founded in 2017 by psychologist Jonathan Haidt and Caroline Mehl, the Constructive Dialogue Institute (CDI) is a non-profit organization dedicated to equipping people with the mindset and skill set to engage in dialogue across differences. CDI seeks to help institutions, educators, and communities communicate across differences. To accomplish this goal, CDI translates the latest behavioral science research into educational resources that are evidence-based, practical, and scalable.

About Government Finance Officers Association
Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) represents over 22,000 public finance officers throughout the United States and Canada. GFOA’s mission is to advance excellence in government finance. GFOA views its role as a resource, educator, facilitator, and advocate for both its members and the governments they serve and provides best practice guidance, leadership, professional development, resources and tools, networking opportunities, award programs, and advisory services.