Research

The inAccord research team consists of President Shauna Ries, Research Professor Susan Harter, and Statistician, Shauna Reinks, PhD.  This experienced and renowned research and practice combination created a stable of powerful survey tools that help measure a mediation or arbitration disputants understands of the process and their satisfaction with the outcomes.  These effective tools help individual mediators track the efficacy of their interventions at each stage of the process.  In addition, the data is entered into an international study conducted by Mediators without Borders to help continually enhance the inAccord model and to measure outcomes.

inAccord Conflict Analysis Model

We have developed an accessible model of mediation and arbitration training that allows you to measure the efficacy of your work by employing a simple four stage model with easy to use forms for analysis.

Created by President Shauna Ries and renowned Research Professor, Dr. Susan Harter, in collaboration with statistician Shauna Rienks, PhD, this project will involve you in an international study measuring the efficacy of the inACCORD model of conflict analysis.

Mediators without Borders Society members have access to inAccord survey instruments.  Using Qulatrax survey tools, you will be able to use handheld data capture, eliminating paper handling to collect data from your mediation sessions. This data will be transmitted to MwB as part of ongoing enhancements of the inAccord model.

About the Researchers

Shauna Rienks

In addition to her role as Statistician and Researcher for Mediators without Borders, Shauna Rienks works as a Research Associate for the federally funded Fatherhood Relationship and Marriage Education (FRAME) project in the Psychology Department at the University of Denver. She is originally from Trinidad, CO and earned her Bachelor’s degree in psychology from Princeton University.
Learn more about Shauna Rienks

Susan Harter

Dr. Harter is a Professor of Psychology and has, for many years, served as the Head of the Developmental Psychology Program (both graduate and postdoctoral components) at the University of Denver. She brought a vibrant postdoctoral training program to the University that was funded by the National Institutes of Mental Health. Dr. Harter received her Ph.D. from Yale University in 1966, obtaining a joint degree in developmental and child-clinical psychology. She remained at Yale, as the first faculty woman in the Psychology department, accepting a joint faculty appointment in the Psychology Department and the Yale Child Study Center, a clinic, where she served as Chief Psychologist. She came to the University of Denver in 1974 where she continued her scholarly and research career, funded by The National Institutes of Health and by the W. T. Grant Foundation. Her primary research interests include the development of self-understanding and self-esteem, the critical role of emotions in human behavior, the role of negative self-evaluations in provoking depression as well as anger, and the study of gender issues across the life span.
Learn more about Susan Harter