You are invited to participate in a survey of mediators about mediation participants' preparation, conducted by Dr. Timothy Hedeen and colleagues at Kennesaw State University.

This survey should take fewer than fifteen minutes to complete.

Please note the following terms of participation in this study:
1) your participation is fully voluntary;
2) you must be 18 years of age or older to participate; and
3) your responses will not be linked to you in any way: all data will be collected anonymously, as the survey system does not record any identifying information (name, location, IP address).

Research at Kennesaw State University that involves human participants is carried out under the oversight of an Institutional Review Board. Questions or problems regarding these activities should be addressed to the Institutional Review Board at (678) 797-2268. Comments or questions related to the survey should be directed to Dr. Hedeen at tkhedeen@kennesaw.edu

Question Title

* In which area do you conduct most of your mediations?

Question Title

* For the following questions on this page, please focus on clients and cases only in the area you've identified above.

What percentage of your mediation clients (named parties in the dispute or case, NOT their attorneys or other counsel) arrive at their mediation session at each level of preparation?

Question Title

* What percentage of your clients arrive at mediation knowledgeable of …

  0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
a. the mediation process/format.
b. the role of the mediator (as distinct from judge or arbitrator).
c. their own role in the mediation.
d. the role of attorneys, accountants, other professionals present at the mediation.
e. the style of mediation to be employed.

Question Title

* What percentage of your clients arrive at mediation with a clear understanding of…

  0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
f. their goals for mediation.
g. their interests in the dispute.
h. standards relevant to their dispute (e.g., child support guidelines, relevant precedents from court or related industry).
i. the legal issues (if any) pertinent to their dispute.
j. the financial issues (if any) pertinent to their dispute.
k. the materials (paperwork, e.g.) relevant for their mediation.
l. the strengths and weaknesses of their case, were it decided by a judge or arbitrator.
m. their alternatives to agreement in mediation.

Question Title

* What percentage of your clients arrive at mediation sufficiently prepared to…

  0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
n. make decisions consistent with their goals.
o. make decisions related to legal issues pertinent to their dispute.
p. make decisions related to financial issues pertinent to their dispute.
q. refer to any materials (e.g., paperwork) they have brought to mediation or can access remotely from the mediation.
r. manage their emotions during the mediation.

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* What percentage of your clients have sufficiently consulted with, or coordinated with…

  0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
s. professionals who WILL NOT be present at the mediation (e.g., attorneys, accountants, therapists).
t. professionals who WILL be present at the mediation (e.g., attorneys, accountants, therapists).
u. other individuals (e.g., relatives, business partners, neighbors) whose input was important to the client who WILL NOT be present at the mediation.
v. other individuals (e.g., relatives, business partners, neighbors) whose input was important to the client who WILL be present at the mediation.

Question Title

* What percentage of your clients arrive at mediation having considered…

  0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
w. the goals of the OTHER party(ies) for mediation.
x. the interests of the OTHER party(ies) in the dispute.
y. the strengths and weaknesses of the OTHER party’s(ies’) “case”, were it decided by a judge or arbitrator.
z. the OTHER party’s(ies’) alternatives to agreement in mediation.

Question Title

* Which preparation elements have you most often seen overlooked by parties in mediation?

  Elements of preparation commonly overlooked
Most common
2nd-most common
3rd-most common
4th-most common
5th-most common

Question Title

* Please identify other preparation elements than those listed above commonly overlooked by your clients.

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* Which preparation elements do you consider MOST VALUABLE to parties entering mediation?

  Elements of preparation
Most common
2nd-most common
3rd-most common
4th-most common
5th-most common

Question Title

* Please identify any other preparation elements (other than those listed above) which you consider most valuable to parties entering mediation.

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