Unlocking the Learning Potential in Peer Mediation: An Evaluation of Peer Mediator Modeling and Disputant Learning

Conflict resolution education and peer mediation programs have become increasingly popular in schools across the United States and around the world. Highly trained peer mediators are being called upon to help keep their schools safe and violence free. Existing evaluation research on peer mediation programs verify that they are both successful in resolving conflicts between students and in teaching peer mediators conflict resolution knowledge, attitudes, and skills. Yet, little is known about the impact of these programs on disputants. In particular, no studies directly investigate whether or not disputants -students who are being mediated - learn anything during mediation that can help them resolve future conflict without the need for third party intervention.
This study took place in the context of an ongoing program evaluation of conflict resolution and peer mediation programs in Fairfax County Public Schools (Fairfax, VA). Its purpose was to evaluate the degree of (1) peer mediator modeling and (2) disputant learning in an effort to improve current practice and make judgments about program effectiveness. The study was designed to be exploratory because no prior research had been conducted on peer mediator modeling and only a handful of studies mentioned disputant learning. A multi-source, multi-method design was created to allow for triangulation of data. Data was collected from peer mediators, disputants, peer mediation program staff, and peer mediation observers in three high schools using a pretest/posttest instrument, evaluation and assessment forms, interviews, observations, and administrative records.
The results of the study demonstrated that peer mediators effectively modeled and disputants effectively learned conflict resolution knowledge, attitudes, and skills that contributed to a significant improvement in conflict behaviors and a significant reduction in disputant discipline problems following mediation. These findings expand the notion of who benefits most from peer mediation programs by showing that not only do peer mediators gain valuable life skills, but disputants can as well. Schools can now view their peer mediation program as an effective intervention program that builds new conflict resolution capacities in participating students, while helping to maintain a safe learning environment for their school.