NCJ Number
94195
Journal
Journal of Applied Psychology Volume: 67 Issue: 5 Dated: (October 1982) Pages: 549-554
Date Published
1982
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This study investigated the effects of anticipated mediation and alternative modes of arbitration on bargaining behavior.
Abstract
Eighty-four business students participated in a laboratory experiment. The experiment consisted of a face-to-face collective bargaining simulation in which subjects assumed the roles of union and management negotiators. Two mediation and four arbitration conditions were manipulated in a 2x4 factorial design. Results indicated that dyads bargaining under total package final offer arbitration left significantly fewer issues unresolved than did dyads bargaining under conventional arbitration or issue-by-issue final offer arbitration. Whereas mediation was not found to have an independent effect on bargaining behavior, mediation was found to significantly interact with mode of arbitration to influence bargaining behavior. Under the mediation condition, more issues were left unresolved under conventional arbitration than under any other anticipated form of third-party intervention. On the other hand, under the no-mediation condition, total package final offer arbitration and no arbitration were found to result in the fewest number of unresolved issues. Possible explanations for these findings are discussed. (Author abstract)