Measuring mediator attitudes towards mediation: developing the Attitudes Toward Mediation Scale

For this dissertation, I developed the Attitudes Toward Mediation Scale (ATMS), the first psychometric instrument to reliably and systematically measure mediation style among a varied group of mediators. This dissertation grew from previous empirical literature on mediation style along with previous work examining mediator stylistic variation. Five studies were carried out: Studies 1 to 3 were aimed at developing the ATMS, Study 4 validated the measure, and Study 5 sought to establish criterion validity by exploring the possible correlates of the ATMS. In Study 1, face and content valid items were generated for the ATMS. In Study 2, the factor structure of the ATMS was assessed using a national sample of professional mediators. Two stylistic factors emerged: Resolution-oriented and Dialogue-oriented mediation approaches. The Resolution-oriented approach emphasizes reaching a settlement via directive mediator behaviors whereas the Dialogue-oriented approach is more non-directive and focuses on helping the parties have an open dialogue about their conflict. In Study 3 the factor structure of the ATMS was confirmed via Confirmatory Factor Analysis and test-retest reliability was verified. In Study 4, construct validity was established. The ATMS was correlated with the Social Support Opinion Survey, a measure of social support, and the Global Evaluation of Mediator Behavior Scale, an independent observer measure of mediator behavior. Finally, in Study 5 criterion validity was established and mediator characteristics (e.g., age, gender, and training), domain of mediation and social context were found to be related to ATMS's stylistic orientations. Resolution-oriented mediators were more likely to be older, male, community mediators, and work in a social context in which time pressure was present and the parties did not have an ongoing relationship. Conversely, dialogue-oriented mediators were more likely to be younger, women, family mediators, have mediation training, and work in a social context where the disputes involved interpersonal issues and the parties had an on-going relationship. These findings suggest that mediator style is significantly shaped by dispute setting, certain contextual features of that setting, and individual characteristics of the mediator, and is not merely a function of which mediation style is "best."Ph.D.Includes bibliographical references, abstract, and vita.by Tiffany Butt