A central purpose of these Learning Curve Research focus groups is to gain insight into what helps people grapple effectively with a complex public issue. The goal is to help people consider an issue more completely in order to decide what they think and want to do in relation to it. We thus help them consider an array of ideas and evidence in a fair-minded way so they can figure out where they stand and better recognize the implications and consequences of their views.16 These qualitative research insights can then provide a basis for broader efforts at public communication and engagement that support more fully considered public opinion and civic participation. In this section and the conclusion that follows it (page 26), we discuss our most important observations and their possible implications for public engagement.