The value lab: exploring moral frameworks in the deliberation of values in the animal biotechnology debate

The development of animal biotechnology is accompanied by factual uncertainty and value pluralism. The arising policy controversy demands a frame-reflective approach to policy-making. A first step in such an approach is the articulation of existing value frames to provide constructive options for moral deliberation. The value lab method interactively makes an in-depth reconstruction of the qualitative diversity of moral value frameworks. This article describes the methodological steps taken to engage participants in the exploration and co-construction of their ideas, using their own concepts and language. Eventually, we discuss how this contributes to the development of new methodologies to handle value conflicts in complex public policy issues. © Beech Tree Publishing 2007.