Supporting Statement Part B CLEAN 030613

SUPPORTING STATEMENT

Part B: Collection of Information Employing Statistical Methods

1. Respondent Universe and Sampling methods:

The respondent universe for the police segment of the project is the 55 sworn personnel of the Branford CT Police Department.

The respondent universe for the mediation participant segment of the project is those parties referred to Community Mediation, Inc. by the Branford Police Department.

2. Procedures for the Collection of Information

Community Mediation, Inc will conduct training with the Branford Police Department. CM personnel will teach patrol officers and supervisors the techniques necessary to recognize when mediation is a potential advantage in a case. These instances might include situations where police return many times to an ongoing dispute and may not be able to bring the dispute to resolution themselves. Police respondents will complete questionnaires at the beginning and at the end of the mediation training.

Mediation participants will be encouraged to complete questionnaires at the close of their cases.

3. Methods to Maximize Response Rates and Deal with Issues of Non-Response

For the police respondents, the questionnaires are an integrated part of the training.

For the mediation participants, the questionnaires are part of the exit process. All participants will be encouraged to complete the questionnaire, but ultimately the respondent may opt out.

4. Tests of procedures or methods to be undertaken

The police respondents’ instruments will be compared pre-post to determine officers’ knowledge of and receptiveness toward incorporating mediation into their problem-solving arsenal.

The mediation participants’ questionnaires are aimed at gauging the level of satisfaction with the process and results for each party. The University of New Haven is looking to see whether or not individuals feel satisfied that they were treated fairly and that their side of the conflict was heard, regardless of case disposition.

5. Individuals consulted on statistical aspects of the design and organization/persons collecting and analyzing the data.

Dr. Christopher M. Sedelmaier, Dr. John DeCarlo, and Dr. Michael J. Jenkins from the University of New Haven consulted on statistical aspects of the design, and will collect/analyze the data.

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