Mediator Expertise Live Interviews

Abstract

The training of mediators in this jurisdiction (England and Wales) is relatively brief, almost entirely skills-based, and contains little or no theoretical content. Completion of basic training alone does not confer expertise. According to Ericsson (2006) and others, expertise is both person and domain-specific and typically takes ten years to achieve, regardless of profession or discipline.

This paper discusses knowledge management and sharing through the use of mediator expertise live interviews (MELIs) as a training methodology for both newly trained and experienced mediators. A MELI involves an expert mediator taking part in a live (i.e. unrehearsed) interview in the context of a training event or other community of practice setting. The interview structure combines adapted elements of critical task analysis (Flanagan, 1954 and others) and Klein’s (1999) critical decision method, which uses a four-stage process to elicit practitioner knowledge.

The paper also suggests strategies and sample questions for conducting a MELI, as well as consideration of ethical and theoretical matters. Acknowledging that the MELI is a nascent training strategy, the paper concludes with a proposal that empirical research may now be indicated to establish whether the MELI would be useful as a formalised training vehicle for mediators.

Keywords: mediator expertise live interview, MELI, mediation, expert mediator, knowledge sharing, training