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ADR Research Guide

Is Alternative Dispute Resolution Effective?

ADR can be effective in many disputes, but there is no meaningful single success rate for all ADR. Whether a study applies to your situation depends on what it measured, where and for whom.

ADRResearch

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On this page
  1. Quick Answer
  2. Seven Questions
  3. What Success Means
  4. Research Rule
  5. Limits of Data
  6. Family Disputes
  7. Where ETS Fits
  8. Who Does What
  9. FAQs
  10. Sources

Quick answer

Is ADR Effective?

  1. ADR can be effective in many disputes, but there is no meaningful single success rate for all ADR.
  2. Effectiveness can mean settlement reached, time to resolution, cost or participant satisfaction.
  3. It can also mean compliance, durability of the agreement or fewer disputed issues.
  4. Any statistic should name its source, population, ADR type, time period and outcome measured.

Seven questions

Before Using an ADR Statistic, Ask

Seven questions to ask before relying on an ADR statistic.

  1. What process?

  2. What type of dispute?

  3. What jurisdiction or program?

  4. What time period?

  5. What does "success" mean?

  6. How many cases?

  7. Who produced the data?

One program, court, study or provider is not a universal ADR success rate.Source: Executive Treatment Solutions editorial summary

Definitions

"Success" Means Different Things

A program may report settlements reached. Another may report satisfaction or time saved. These are different outcomes and cannot be swapped for each other.

Method

What a Reliable Statistic Should Identify

  • Source
  • Population studied
  • ADR type
  • Time period
  • Outcome measured

Limits

Why One Study Is Not the Whole Picture

Results from one mediation program, one court, one study or one arbitration provider do not become a universal ADR success rate. People who choose ADR may also differ from those who do not, which affects comparisons with litigation.

Context

Family Disputes Have Their Own Context

California court-connected custody mediation is a distinct program under Rule 5.210. Its results should not be mixed with private civil mediation or arbitration data. See What Is the ADR Process?

Legal note

Whether ADR fits a specific dispute is a judgment for counsel, not a statistic.

What ETS can and cannot do

Where Executive Treatment Solutions Fits

ETS does not publish ADR success rates. In disputes involving treatment or monitoring, ETS can coordinate those services and authorized documentation.

ADR SupportTreatment and monitoring coordination.Case ManagementRecords and coordination.

No ADR outcome is guaranteed.

Responsibilities

Who Does What?

Researchers / programs

Define and report what they measured.

Counsel

Advises whether a process fits.

Mediator / arbitrator

Runs the selected process.

ETS

Coordinates treatment, testing and records.

Questions

ADR Effectiveness: Frequently Asked Questions

There is no meaningful single success rate for all ADR.

Sources & Legal References

Executive Treatment Solutions Editorial Team

This guide explains how to evaluate ADR data at a general level. It is not legal advice.

Confidential consultation

Clinical Issues in a Dispute?

ETS can coordinate treatment, testing and records while counsel handles the dispute.

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No ADR outcome is guaranteed.

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