Eben Weitzman, Ph.D., Columbia University

Eben Weitzman is a social and organizational psychologist specializing in the study of conflict. His work focuses on conflict within and between groups, with emphases on organizational conflict, cross-cultural conflict, and intergroup relations. He does conflict resolution, organizational development work, and dispute resolution systems design with a wide variety of individuals and organizations in both the public and private sectors, including organizations in health care, education, organized labor, government, law enforcement, social services, business, and the courts.

Professor Weitzman also does extensive work on research methodology, and is Reviews Editor for the journal, Field Methods.

In addition, Professor Weitzman serves as Grievance Officer for the UMass Boston Faculty Staff Union.

Research Interests:

  • Intra-group conflict in mediation
  • Judicial participation in settlement discussions
  • Cultural differences in attitudes toward conflict
  • Effects of cooperation and competition on small group processes
  • Computer-aided data analysis in qualitative research

Recent Conflict Management/Organizational Interventions:

Workshop to resolve internal conflict and develop improved management systems at an urban park of the National Park Service

Dispute resolution system assessment and redesign with 4 health plans

Conflict resolution training for older, African-American women at a senior citizen's center

Workshop on the resolution of conflict in workgroups for the Association of Administrators in Academic Psychiatry

Several months' consultation to help resolve internal conflict, and develop new organizational working norms and patterns of communication at a National Park

Mediation with a community leadership team at a Boston high school in resolving conflict between parents, teachers, students and administrators over a controversial tardiness policy

Recent Publications:

Weitzman, E. A. & Weitzman, P. F. (2006) The PSDM model: Integrating problem solving and decision making in conflict resolution. In M. Deutsch, P. Coleman & E. Marcus (Eds.) Handbook of conflict resolution: Theory and practice, 2nd Edition. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Weitzman, E. A. (2006). "Computer-aided/mediated Analysis." In G. Ritzer, Ed. Encyclopedia Of Sociology. Blackwell.

Weitzman, E. A. (2004) Advancing the scientific basis of qualitative research. In C. C. Ragin, J. Nagel, & P. White (Eds) Workshop on the Scientific Foundations of Qualitative Research. Arlington, VA: National Science Foundation.

Weitzman, P. F. & Weitzman, E. A. (2003). Promoting communication with older adults: Protocols for resolving interpersonal conflicts and for enhancing interactions with doctors. Clinical Psychology Review. 23, 523-535.

Weitzman, E. A. & D. Kew (2002) "Responding to September 11: A Conflict Resolution Scholar/Practitioner's Perspective." Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy 2(1). Available at http://www.asap-spssi.org (password: spssi911).

Weitzman, P. F., Weitzman, E. A. & Levkoff, S. E. (2002). Interpersonal conflicts of women in nursing homes: An administrative perspective. Journal of Clinical Geropsychology, 8, 139-147.

Selected Recent Presentations:

Weitzman, E. A., Weitzman, P. F. (June, 2005) Conflict management and negotiation in the workplace. Two session faculty training seminar, Brigham & Women’s Hospital Office of Women’s Careers.

Weitzman, E. A., (April, 2005) Conflict resolution in the Medical School Context. Workshop at the Institute for Community Inclusion.

Weitzman, E. A., Tufano, M. J., Morash, S. K. (September, 2004). Assessing and improving dispute resolution systems in health care. Paper presented at the annual conference of the Association for Conflict Resolution, Sacramento, CA.

Weitzman, E. A., Devers, K. J. (June, 2004). Qualitative data analysis software: Choosing a program that’s right for you. Methods Seminar conducted at the annual conference of AcademyHealth, San Diego, CA

Health Care Community Discussions

Associate Professor Eben Weitzman contributed to a report issued by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) entitled “Americans Speak on Health Reform: Report on Health Care Community Discussions”. The report summarizes comments from Americans who hosted and participated in Health Care Community Discussions across the country and highlights the need for immediate action to reform health care. As a member of the analysis team. Dr. Weitzman provided expert consulting on data management, data analysis, and the use of software to support those tasks. The report is available on a new Web site dedicated to health reform: http://www.healthreform.gov

Organizational Conflict

On 3/20 and 3/27 Associate Professor Eben Weitzman is leading a 2-part workshop on organizational conflict for the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) program at Children's Hospital. This program is also affiliated with UMass Boston at the Institute for Community Inclusion.

Managing Organizational Conflict During Disasters

Associate Professor Eben Weitzman [Dispute Resolution, McCormack Graduate School] conducted a workshop on “Managing Organizational Conflict During Disasters” for the 2009 Integrated Medical, Public Health, Preparedness and Response Training Summit. This is the first such annual event co-sponsored by the Medical Reserve Corps, the National Disaster Medical System, the Emergency System for Advance Registration of Volunteer Health Professionals, and the Office of Force Readiness and Deployment. Held in Dallas TX in early April, the Summit was attended by over 300 people.