2. WHAT IS MEDIATION?
Mediation is essentially a method of third party intervention.
Examples of mediation include, a wing-man or woman at a(n) in-formal event.
Another example is a hired professional who helps differing parties come to some common ground.
A brief example: https://youtu.be/db4rxbIZoQ0
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3. THREE THEORETICAL APPROACHES
• Self- Determination Theory (SDT)- An essential part of human nature
• Transaction Resource Theory (TRT)- The “wing-man” or woman concept
• Collective Choice Theory (CCT)- Often found in politics
(Imperati & Maser, 2014).
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4. SELF- DETERMINATION THEORY (SDT)
• Derived from the field of psychology
• The mediator is called upon to help resolve a(n) inter-personal conflict
• All parties including the mediator have a stake in the conflict
5. TRANSACTION RESOURCE THEORY (TRT)
• From the field of Economics
• Often seen when introducing or negotiating mixed motived
• Also known as the ‘wing-man’ or woman
6. COLLECTIVE CHOICE THEORY
• From the field of political science
• The challenge of translating individual preferences into group preference
• Either side could have manipulated the process
• Perpetual and time consuming
7. POSSIBLE CONFLICT MANAGEMENT OUTCOMES:
• Ceasefire- The intent to pause the dispute long enough to reach agreement
• Full-Settlement- Both partied come to agree on some mutual terms
• Partial-Settlement- Not all terms were agreed upon but some were
• Unsuccessful- No one from either side, including the mediator was able to reach agreement
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8. Four phases of mediation
Phase 1: Opening- Intro of all parties and the issue that is at hand
Phase 2: Private caucuses- Each party explains their point of view
Phase 3: Breaking through impasses- Addressing the problem and finding common ground
Phase 4: Disposition- The final resolve is either a full-settlement, partial-settlement, a ceasefire, or unsuccessful
(Scott & Wilson, 2015, p.21).
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9. So what about ethics?
• People should assess the risks of engaging in mediation (from these three basic standpoints),
no matter how well intentioned. Well-crafted standards of practice minimize those risks
(Imperati & Maser, 2014, p. 243).
• The moral tenants of Immanuel Kant (1785) focus on duty rather than consequence to help
guide society (Place, 2010, p.227).
• Autonomy from a public relations standpoint, enables practitioners to make decisions based
in ethics rather than subjectivity, fear of job loss, or client and employer relationships
(Bowen, 2004).
10. A LOOK INTO QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
• According to Grunig (2008), we should be able to determine the value of
public relations by measuring the quality of relationships with strategic
publics (p. 97).
11. A List of Quantitative Research Methods:
Quantitative methods include surveys of experiments with members of scientifically segmented publics (Grunig, 2008)
• Advisory groups
• Content analysis
• Cyber analysis
• Focus groups
• Interviews
• Literature Review
• Naturally occurring information
• Observations
12. THREE LEVELS OF ANALYTICS IN PUBLIC RELATIONS
(GRUNIG, 2008)
• Program
• Functional
• Organizational
13. THE PROGRAM LEVEL
• Media relations, community relations, or employee relations that
are components of the overall publics relations function of an
organization.
14. THE FUNCTIONAL LEVEL
• Evaluation of the overall publics relations function of an
organization which typically included several communication
programs for different publics.
15. THE ORGANIZATIONAL LEVEL
• Public relations contributions to the overall effectiveness of the
organization. These contributions add value- sometimes
monetary- to the organization.
16. AN EXAMPLE OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
• From the Bercovitch 2000 International Conflict Management data set, a literature review and
comparative analysis was completed. Findings suggest, that directive strategies and international
mediators are most effective in resolving high intensity conflicts, whereas procedural strategies and
regional mediators are more effective in resolving low intensity conflicts (Bercovitch & Gartner, 2006).
• Bercovitch and Gartner (2006) take an CCT approach to the data laying claim that, mediation is a
rational, political process, representing a strategic engagement between parties and a mediator, which,
under some conditions, may stop violence and hostilities or even facilitate a peace agreement and a
transformation of the conflict (p. 331).
17. A BRIEF LOOK:
Notice 46.47% frequency usage for state
mediation vs. 4.50% for individual. Also
note that communication frequency usage
of mediation is at 52.46% vs. 18.44% for
procedural.
18. A BRIEF LOOK:
Notice that both table 4A & 4B, by
comparison show of mediation
successfulness to be the highest at the
state and regional level, regardless of
outcome.
19. SUMMARY
• This example of quantitative research is basic however, its comparative analysis and theoretical
literature can be used to interpret several standpoints where mediation is most effective.
• More clearly explained methods of the process and codification of the data should be offered in the
article, which I feel it lacks and a look at social networking, its role, and effectiveness on an
international -political platform would help make the data set more comprehensive.
• Lastly, mediation is a scientific way to gauge and resolve disputes, mixed motive agreements, and
negotiations wherein groups cannot find some common ground. Although the results here suggest
mediation is best applied in state and regional sceneries, mediation can be helpful for others such as
small group intervention and organizational change processes.
20. WORKS CITED
• Bercovitech, J. & Gartner, S.S. (2006). Is there method in the madness of mediation? Some lessons for
mediators from quantitative studies of mediation. International Interactions, 32 p. 329-354. New York:
Routledge. DOI: 10.1080/0305062061011024.
• Bohmelt, T. (2009). International mediation and social networks: The importance of indirect ties. International
Interactions, 35,p. 298-319. New York: Routledge. DOI: 10.1080/02050620903084786.
• Bowen, S.A. (2004). Expansion of ethics as the tenth generic principle of public relations excellence: A Kantian
theory and model for managing ethical issues. Journal For Public Relations Research, 16(1), 65-92.
• Grunig, J.E. (2008). Conceptualizing quantitative research in public relations. In Public Relations Metrics:
Research and Evaluation (Eds.) Betteke Van Ruler, Ana Tkala Vercic, and Dejan Vercic. New York: Routledge pp.
88-115.
• Imperati, S.J. & Maser, S.M. (2014). Why does anyone mediate if mediation risks psychological dissatisfaction,
extra costs, and manipulation? Three theories reveal paradoxes resolved by mediator standards of ethical
practice. Ohio State Journal on Dispute Resolution, 29 (2),p. 223-260.
• Place, K.R. (2010). A qualitative examination of public relations practitioner ethical decision making and the
deontological theory of ethical issues management. Journal of Mass Media Ethics, 25,p.226-245. New York:
Routledge. DOI: 10.1080/08900523.2010.497405.
• Scott, K.B., & Wilson, C.W. (2015). Mediation 101- Help me help you: Musings of a mediator and an
attorney. Utah Bar Journal 28(1) pp. 18- 22.
