Outcome and Satisfaction Research on mediator qualifications has failed to show a correlation between the mediator's education and rough indicators of performance, such as settlement rates or satisfaction by the parties. More recent and less severe disputes were most likely to be resolved, as were disputes between parties with at least a modest level of communications an cooperation. Voluntary participation in mediation does not appear to produce higher settlement rates than mandated participation in mediation. No evidence exists that voluntary versus mandatory mediation affects user satisfaction. No conclusive evidence exists on the compliance and relitigation patterns associated with mediation and adjudicated agreements.
Users find that mediation identifies the real issues in a dispute.
Women report that the mediation process helped them assume more responsibility in managing their personal affairs than did men, and women had greater confidence in their ability to stand up for themselves as a result of the process.