Workplace Mediation in Ireland: Bridging the Research-Practice Gap.

The purpose of this article is to present a case for the importance of research in informing mediation practice specifically in the context of the management of workplace conflict in Ireland. The position of mediation within the broader dispute-resolution framework is clarified at the outset and the core mediation process is described. The increasing use of mediation in Ireland and the changing institutional context within which it is conducted are discussed. The importance of research is stressed along with crucial methodological challenges. The paucity of workplace mediation research in Ireland is highlighted and the preliminary findings of an on-going research project are presented. The article concludes that more research into workplace mediation in Ireland is needed to inform practice in this area and to improve external perception of the legitimacy of mediation as a dispute resolution process