Procedural Justice of, by, and for American Ethnic Groups: A Comparison of Interpersonal Conflict Resolution Procedures Used by Korean-Americans and American Community Mediation Centers with Procedural Justice Theories

This study analyzes and extends procedural justice research by Identifying, profiling, and comparing two semi-formal conflict resolution procedures. The common features of the third party-assisted procedures for handling Interpersonal conflicts are compared with previous procedural justice studies. 

Indigenous profiles of the voluntary procedures are the result of content analyses on 1) a national sampling of mediator training manuals and participant observations 1n American community-based mediation center training workshops and 2) In-depth semi-structured interviews with Korean-Americans In the Washington, D. C. area. Contributions to the field of conflict studies ore: 1) Information on what some Koreans in America believe Is the correct way to handle interpersonal conflicts among themselves, 2) what trainers for
American mediation centers teach Is the process for mediators to use, 3) a comparison of the extent to which the American mediation process matches that of the Korean-Americans, 4) a comparative analysis of
major procedural justice studies with findings In this study, 5) grounded conceptions of a just procedure In non-legal contexts, 6) a framework for profiling procedures, 7) Issues of data collection when the topic Is Interpersonal conflicts, and 8) new evidence of the cultural relativity of concepts of procedural justice, conflict resolution, and Interpersonal conflicts.

The framework for profiling conflict resolution procedures Includes: perceptions of conflicts and their derivations, process goals and objectives, how the process is Initiated, roles and responsibilities of people In conflict and the third party, type and extent of third party preparation, structure of third party meetings with conflicting parties, how solutions ore generated end selected, and how the conflicts are concluded.

A just procedure is defined as the full complement of principles end rules regarding the appropriate conditions, behaviors, and attitudes to be demonstrated by all participants in the course of o particular
procedure. Behaviors and attitudes are derivatives of a person's concepts of conflicts and what causes them, reflections of a person's cultural orientation. Procedural justice Is culturally and sub-culturally
constituted. Interest In justice also varies by culture.

Recommendations are given for research on procedural justice, and interpersonal and network conflicts; mediation training; and community mediation center services.