ProgramsResearch and Evaluation Program
As an free-standing institute at UMass Boston, MODR is committed to improving the quality of dispute resolution and public collaboration processes by expanding and deepening the scholarship in these fields. MODR is a highly connected organization whose research program hinges on a theme of social capital formation.
These five major elements guide MODR’s research program:
- Partner with like-minded individuals and organizations on initiatives that encourage rigorous, reflective, evaluation-based practice in the fields of dispute resolution and public collaboration.
- Leverage and build the Commonwealth’s capacity for collaborative practice.
- Embed research within community and neighborhood initiatives.
- Align research with the mission of the University of Massachusetts, Boston in areas of environment, health, and policy.
- Link research with major, statewide service initiatives.
In addition to pursuing MODR’s own research aspirations, the organization seeks to be a gateway for academics and other researchers wishing to gain access to on-the-ground practice in the field. MODR is eager to leverage its relationships with professional and volunteer practitioners in the Commonwealth in the interest of contributing to the field’s body of shared knowledge and practices.
Examples of MODR’s Work:
Working Paper on Financial Models for Public Funding of ADR: MODR conducted a literature review and prepared a working paper on research-informed models for viewing court-connected ADR as a financial investment and presented a workshop for court personnel and community mediation programs on communicating the value of court and community mediation in building healthy safe communities drawing on the evidence-base of ADR research.
Evaluation of Peer Mediation Programs: MODR conducted an evaluation for Metropolitan Mediation Services in order to review the objectives of its SCORE peer mediation programs in four schools in the Boston area, gather evidence which can be used to demonstrate the impact of the SCORE program especially with respect to the school climate, and provide insight into conditions within the schools that helped or hindered success in conducting the program.
Research & Evaluation Program contact:
Madhawa Palihapitiya, Associate Director
MODR at UMass Boston
100 Morrissey Boulevard, M-1-627
Boston, MA 02125
Telephone: (617) 287-4036; Fax: (617) 287-4049
madhawa.palihapitiya@umb.edu