At the nexus of big data and dispute resolution

A case study on conflict-related search data

Authors

  • Justin R. Corbett Advancing Dispute Resolution

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1558/mtp.v1i1.29197

Keywords:

big data, dispute resolution, CDR, search analytics, Sentiment analysis

Abstract

This paper presents findings from an ongoing project that has analysed over 225 million annual online conflict-related search queries to better understand the scope and scale of conflict in America. The frequency, location, sentimentality and timing of 52,203 unique conflict search terms were monitored for every US county. Analysis has revealed the public’s collective interests and conflict intensities within 225 distinct conflict contexts, many of which have cyclical trends that can inform resource development and deployment efforts. It has allowed for the creation of maps detailing where conflict arrests or avoids local populations. Finally, it has revealed new insights into how the public prioritises frames for their conflicts and their preferred resolutions. Creative integration of traditional and previously unaligned data, such as presented here, will change the dispute resolution field with regard to its understanding of the dispute resolution marketplace, the surfacing of opportunities to satisfy that market, and the ability to monitor the resulting impact of interventions from the personal to broad societal levels.

Author Biography

  • Justin R. Corbett, Advancing Dispute Resolution

    Justin R. Corbett, chief project officer of Advancing Dispute Resolution, is particularly interested in the convergence of data, technology, and the dispute resolution field. His current work leverages the aforementioned research to inform a coordinated, multi-charitable organisation million dollar public education campaign designed to raise awareness of local dispute resolution services. Prior to his current work, he led a local community mediation centre, the National Association for Community Mediation (NAFCM, US), and the Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR, International).

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Published

2016-06-04

Issue

Section

Research Articles

How to Cite

Corbett, J. R. (2016). At the nexus of big data and dispute resolution: A case study on conflict-related search data. Mediation Theory and Practice, 1(1), 5-34. https://doi.org/10.1558/mtp.v1i1.29197