The effect of mediator credibility on disputants' perceptions and behaviors

This study examined one dimension of a larger conceptual model of mediator credibility. Specifically, the study investigated the effects of perceived expertise and two related factors, mediator information and recommendation quality, on disputants' perceptions and behaviors. Participants played the role of student employee representatives and bargained with student management representatives over a number of issues. During the course of the negotiation, a mediator made recommendations as to how the conflict should be resolved. The experiment varied participants' perceptions of the mediator's expertise (whether the mediator was an expert or a novice), perceptions of the mediator's information level (whether the mediator had complete or partial information about disputants' issues and priorities), and perceptions of the quality of the mediator's recommendation (whether the mediator made integrative, compromise, or non-integrative recommendations). The results indicated that perceived expertise had strong effects on how favorably disputants' viewed the mediator (e.g., acceptability, confidence, trustworthiness, satisfaction). Perceptions of mediator expertise and recommendation quality interacted and influenced disputant behavior: Expertise only influenced concessions in the low quality recommendation condition. Perceived mediator information level had strong effects on perceptions of fairness and satisfaction with the mediator's offers. Overall, the results were consistent with the predictions of the general model of mediator credibility and findings from the attitude change literature.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2011

Author dc:creator

• Arnold, Josh Allan

Contributors dc:contributor

• Camevile, Peter

• Business Administration, General
• Psychology, Social
• Mass Communications

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 1996 Arnold, Josh Allan

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

9780591197327
AAI9712191
(UMI)AAI9712191

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/21558