This article examines conflict resolution through environmental mediation. Using several case studies the author defines and outlines the various approaches taken in resolving conflicts over environmental issues. It was concluded that some environmental disputes can be solved more satisfactorily and more quickly by using negotiation and mediation.…

Use of a mediator to facilitate voluntary agreements between disputants is becoming a widely used method of conflict resolution in a variety of contexts. This study simulated a dispute to examine the influence of mediator and negotiator gender on mediator behavior. Male (N=94) and female (N=94) college students mediated a computer-simulated…

Eighteen suggestions for reducing or even preventing grievance arbitration costs are detailed under negotiating the contract, administering the contract, and preparing for arbitration categories. (KS)

An in-depth, exploratory analysis was conducted covering nine cases in which mediation was used as an alternative to the adversary system in arriving at divorce settlements. The analyses were based on audio recordings of mediation sessions and an intensive interview with each of the parties 3 to 12 months after the divorce. Four obstacles to…

Organized around the theme of conflict resolution, this booklet provides teachers and lawyers with classroom materials for elementary grades K-3 (Level A), intermediate grades 4-6 (Level B), middle school grades 6-8 (Level C), and high school grades 9-12 (Level D). In addition, each level contains pages for the lawyer (marked by the scales of…

This manual presents a collaborative "situational negotiations" approach to collective bargaining. After a brief introduction, part 1 describes the traditional adversarial bargaining model, using a case study from a medium-sized school district in the state of Washington to illustrate how the aftermath of confrontational bargaining is…

Mediation can be an efficient and appropriate process for resolving civil rights complaints. A survey of 36 human relations and civil rights offices in 10 states confirms that mediation is too seldom used, although there is interest in mediation practices. Problem areas in mediation are discussed. (SLD)

Describes the use of a problem-solving negotiation model to resolve disputes under Part H of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and the need for formal education and training in problem-solving negotiation in early-intervention systems for children with disabilities. (Author/CR)

This paper discusses alternatives to court litigation in special education disputes between schools and parents of students with disabilities. It begins by describing problems with the current hearing process and dispelling myths about alternative dispute resolutions (ADR). The advantages and disadvantages of mediation are then outlined, along…

A preliminary study investigating the perceptions of intergroup relations in the bargaining process supports Kenneth Burke's concepts of order and mystery. Questionnaires, interviews, and direct observations of teachers' and school boards' teams involved in contract negotiations show that people closest to the bargaining saw more order in the…

The responses of over 700 members of the American Association of School Administrators to a survey investigating the status of collective bargaining in today's elementary and secondary school systems served as the basis for this report. Questions were asked concerning all aspects of collective bargaining (from the administrative perspective),…