ABSTRACT
Structured comparative case design The results of the quantitative analyses presented in Chapter 3 largely supported the hypotheses derived from the Rational Model of Mediation (RMM). However, statistical analysis tells us little, if anything, about the causal mechanisms involved in mediation: how do a conflict’s conditions (and subsequent versatility level) impact rivals’ mediation decisions? Why do disputants perceive third parties as credible or noncredible mediators, and how do their perceptions affect their mediation decisions? How do the parties interact and respond to one another over the course of a given mediation process? The answers to these and other questions that derive from the Rational Model of Mediation come to light through the in-depth exploration of conflicts over time.
