Research and Evaluation

RSI has vast experience and unrivaled expertise in ADR research and evaluation. We conduct all types of evaluations, from very simple to highly complex, for courts, ADR providers and government programs. We customize our evaluations to meet the needs of our clients, be they large or small. We conduct survey research, hold focus groups, gather experts and employ other methods to examine policy and help guide courts and others to improve their ADR systems.

Independent Research

For over two decades, RSI has studied and provided recommendations on a variety of questions related to court-based ADR and online dispute resolution (ODR). Current projects include our ODR Party Engagement (OPEN) Project, supported by the AAA-ICDR Foundation, which seeks insights into best practices for court communications with self-represented litigants, and our Trust Project, supported by the Rackham Foundation, exploring the intersection between mediator behaviors and party trust. Other recent research projects have focused on ODR for families with limited resources, the need for a tool to screen ADR participants for intimate partner violence, the potential for ADR to increase access to justice, and the efficacy of mediation.

Visit our Independent Research page for more information on our recent research projects.

Evaluation

RSI’s Director of Research is the nation’s foremost court ADR evaluator, with over 20 years of experience conducting program evaluations for courts and ADR providers that want an independent, external assessment of their ADR programs. Her recent work includes collaborating on two groundbreaking evaluations of court-based ODR programs, one of which was the first external expert evaluation of a family court ODR system in the United States.

RSI’s evaluations have ranged from large, multi-year assessments of all aspects of a program to targeted analyses of particular program processes or outcomes. In addition, we provide analysis and reporting on previously collected data. 

Learn more about RSI’s approach, evaluation process, areas of work, and program evaluation examples on our Program Evaluation page. For details on our process for designing and conducting surveys, as well as project examples, visit our Suvey Design and Administration page. Need more limited support? Check out our Other Evaluation Services page to learn how we can help with tracking cases and outcome data, customizing case management software, assessing your data needs, or engaging with program participants and partners.

Need a related service that isn’t mentioned here? Tired of reading and ready to talk with someone? Reach out to us!