Phase Structures in Agreement and No-Agreement Mediation

Abstract

Phase theories of negotiation and mediation suggest that agreement mediation progresses from differentiation to integration through information-exchange, problem-solving, and finally resolution behaviors. Eighteen agreement and 18 no-agreement divorce mediation sessions were coded using the revised Mediation Process Analysis. Multiple discriminant analyses and univariate follow-up analyses were used to determine whether communication behaviors discriminated between phase structures in agreement and no-agreement mediation and to identify differences in participants' use of communication tactics during each phase. The results supported the posited model of agreement mediation. No-agreement mediation was characterized by a continuing emphasis on information exchange throughout mediation and by a de-emphasis on problem-solving and resolution behaviors.