Replication data for 'What the Public Wants to Know, and Why Should Policymakers Listen: A Text-as-data Study of Information Requests to the UK Government'

Replication data for 'What the Public Wants to Know, and Why Should Policymakers Listen: A Text-as-data Study of Information Requests to the UK Government' Abstract: Access to information policies are perceived as serving predominantly a government oversight function utilized by investigative journalists and activists to reveal political corruption or misconduct. In this study, I contest this common belief and argue that ordinary citizens are the key users. Moreover, they seek information far beyond such a narrow definition of accountability. By applying text-as-data methods to 37,364 information requests submitted to the UK central government through the platform WhatDoTheyKnow over a decade, I show that requests serve as a valuable indicator of public reactions to recently adopted or modified policies. Citizens use information requests as a means of interacting with the state in the absence of other means that would oblige bureaucracies to respond. They share their experiences and voice concerns about how these policies impact their lives, and seek clarification. The results illustrate the innovative use and utility of information requests for the study of politics.