The mediation program evaluated by the authors is a multifaceted demonstration project bringing mediation to several categories of disputes. Its purpose is to mediate a set of civil disputes referred to it by the local court as well as to mediate public policy disputes. As defined under the evaluation model, the effective mediation program will produce an output (dispute resolution) that adds to the aggregate output of the traditional court system. The research hypothesis is that mediation produces a higher quality resolution in certain archetypal cases. The model expands the definition of "user of mediation" to include disputants, counsel, insurance company representatives who participate in the conference, and the referring judges of the common pleas court. The first phase of the evaluation defines the locus of cost savings in the mediation program, determines how the cost savings might influence program funding, and assesses how the court-annexed mediation program impacts the efficiency of the sponsoring court. The evaluation variables pertain to structure, process, and outcome. A variable list is provided, and data quality and potential applications are discussed. 44 footnotes.