Professor Jennifer Robbennolt
317 Hulston Hall
882-5068
robbennoltj@missouri.edu

Methods for Program Evaluation and Design
3 credits
F 8:00 – 10:50, Room 332A
Office Hours: by appointment

Overview:
The course will cover the following topics:

1. Research design: the use of empirical research in designing and evaluating dispute resolution systems; the role of a consumer of such research
2. Systems design: the processes involved in designing effective conflict management systems; focusing primarily on the use of empirical research in the design process

Barbara Sommer and Robert Sommer. 1997. A Practical Guide to Behavioral Research: Tools and Techniques (5^th Ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. (S&S)

Cathy A. Costantino and Christina Sickles Merchant. 1996. Designing Conflict Management Systems. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. (C&M)

Articles: There will be a number of supplemental readings over the course of the semester. There is a reading packet available for purchase at Quick Copy in Brady Commons and a number of readings are posted on the course web site. Additional readings or materials may be placed on reserve, distributed in class, or posted via the web site.

Assignments and Grading:

• Class Participation 10%
• Set of research methods exercises 15%
• Final Project: Topic Statement 5%
• Background/Outline 15%
• Class Presentation 10%
• Final Proposal 45%

Tentative Schedule:

Class #1 Introduction

Readings: Hensler: A Research Agenda (see web course)
Hensler: ADR Research at the Crossroads (see web course)

Class #2 Research Methodology/Observation

Observation assignment due

Readings: S&S chapters 1, 2, 4, 5, 11, & 13

Class #3 Interviews/Surveys

Readings: S&S chapters 8 – 10
McAdoo & Hinshaw report (in reader)
4 newspaper articles on polling (in reader)
FYI: John Lande’s Suggestions for Questionnaire Design (in reader)

Guest: Art Hinshaw

Question drafting assignment due

Readings: S&S chapter 6-7
S&S chapter 12 (pp. 197-200)
Guthrie: Panacea or Pandora’s Box?: The Costs of Options in Negotiation (in reader)

Readings: C&M chapters 7 – 10
REDRESS Report – chapter 2 (in reader)
MacCoun: Unintended Consequences of Court Arbitration (in reader)
FYI: Guidelines for the Design of Integrated Conflict Management Systems Within Organizations (see web course)
FYI: ADR Program Evaluation Recommendations (see web course)