Interviewing Cooperative Forensic Witnesses and Mediation

Abstract Although recent work has expanded research on empirically informed forensic interviewing techniques outside the criminal context, no work that we are aware of has considered potential synergies for this research within the realm of alternative dispute resolution (ADR). The current chapter addresses the relation between forensic interviewing and ADR, and more specifically how techniques developed to interview forensic witnesses might be adapted for mediation. In so doing, we first review the research on mediation and forensic interviewing. Next we compare and contrast the two contexts on both psychological and legal dimensions. Finally, we examine areas of potential growth and future directions. By bringing together the work on potential synergies between the two realms, we hope to inspire others to expand further this nascent area of research.