Multidimensional Analysis of Conflict Mediator Style

Abstract

This study explores mediator stylistic variations in a sample of professional and novice mediators. Participants mediated the same simulated conflict and reported on their in-session thinking using a stimulated recall procedure. Mediators described themselves as stylistically eclectic, but this was not borne out by observational data. Multidimensional scaling identified two dimensions underlying mediator performance: stylistic orientation (relational versus settlement oriented) and level of empathic attunement. Qualitative analysis identified facilitative and evaluative variants of the settlement orientation and transformative and diagnostic variants of the relational orientation. The facilitative and diagnostic mediators performed more skillfully than their evaluative and transformative counterparts.