This study aims to investigate the relationship between perceptions of mediators acting symmetrically (treating parties equally) and transparently (providing an explanation of past or future behavior) with parties’ assessments of the neutrality of their mediator and satisfaction with the mediation process.,This mixed-method study surveyed parties and mediators from 35 naturally occurring mediation sessions at community mediation centers about their perceptions of neutrality, symmetry, transparency and satisfaction.,The results showed that parties overwhelmingly assessed their mediators as acting neutrally. Compared to parties’ assessments of mediator neutrality, mediators rated their own neutrality even higher. Symmetry and transparency were both positively correlated with parties’ assessment of mediator neutrality and also emerged as qualitative themes. Speaking order and talk time did not significantly correlate with perception of symmetry. Overall, symmetry appeared to be a more salient factor in parties’ assessment of mediator neutrality than transparency. Both neutrality and symmetry were positively correlated with party satisfaction with the mediation process, but transparency was not.,The present study provides a foundation for future research in understanding neutrality from both parties and mediators’ perspectives. The primary limitation was a small sample size and possible selection bias in achieving the sample.,The study found that symmetry and transparency are useful strategies for managing party perceptions of mediator neutrality and party satisfaction with the mediation process.,This study is one of only a few empirical research studies that investigated the parties’ perspective of mediator neutrality. The study provides a foundation for future research in understanding neutrality from both parties and mediators’ perspectives.

中文翻译：

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调解会议的中立性和满意度：党派和调解员的观点

这项研究的目的是调查各方对调解员的中立性和对调解过程的满意度之间的关系，以了解调解员对称地（平等地对待各方）和透明地（提供对过去或未来行为的解释）的看法与各方之间的关系。 -方法研究从社区调解中心的35个自然发生的调解会议中调查了当事人和调解员，了解他们对中立性，对称性，透明性和满意度的看法。结果表明，各方以压倒性优势评估了他们的调解员的中立行为。与各方对调解员中立性的评估相比，调解员对自己的中立性的评价更高。对称性和透明度既与各方对调解员中立性的评估呈正相关，也作为定性主题出现。说话顺序和谈话时间与对称感没有显着相关。总体而言，对称性似乎是各方评估调解员中立性比透明性更为重要的因素。中立性和对称性均与当事人对调解过程的满意程度成正相关，但透明性却并非如此。本研究为未来研究从当事人和调解者的角度理解中立性奠定了基础。主要的局限性是样本量小，并且在获得样本时可能存在选择偏倚。研究发现，对称和透明是管理政党对调解员中立性和政党对调解过程的满意度的有用策略。这项研究是调查党派对调解员中立性观点的仅有的少数实证研究之一。该研究为未来研究从各方和调解者的角度理解中立性奠定了基础。