Using Participant Questionnaires to Assess Mediator Performance

Dispute Resolution Magazine, Vol. 11, p. 33, 2004

1 Pages Posted: 17 Dec 2010

See all articles by Roselle Wissler

Roselle Wissler

Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law, Arizona State University

Robert W. Rack

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Date Written: 2004

Abstract

This article summarizes the findings of an empirical study that examined the usefulness of attorneys’ assessments of mediator skillfulness as a method for monitoring mediator performance. Attorneys who had participated in federal appellate civil mediation rated the mediator's skillfulness on seven dimensions as part of a larger questionnaire about their mediation experience. Attorneys gave some of the mediators higher skillfulness ratings than other mediators, and rated individual mediators as more skillful on some dimensions than on other dimensions. These findings indicate that the attorneys' assessments were sufficiently discriminating and nuanced to reveal differences among the different mediators and among the different skills each mediator possessed. Importantly, the ratings did not simply mirror whether settlement or other favorable outcomes were achieved in mediation. Taken together, these findings suggest that participant assessments could provide an effective means for monitoring mediator performance.

Keywords: mediator, mediation, empirical research

Suggested Citation

Wissler, Roselle and Rack, Robert W., Using Participant Questionnaires to Assess Mediator Performance (2004). Dispute Resolution Magazine, Vol. 11, p. 33, 2004, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1726078

Roselle Wissler (Contact Author)

Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law, Arizona State University ( email )

111 E. Taylor St.
Mail code 9520
Phoenix, AZ 85004-4467
United States

Robert W. Rack

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
62
Abstract Views
1,127
Rank
632,837
PlumX Metrics